Sintesis Zeolit X Dan Nanokomposit Zeolit/TiO2 Dari Kaolin Dengan Sekam Padi Sebagai Sumber Silika

Abstract

Zeolite X was synthesized from kaolin originated from Bangka Belitung and was added with silica from rice husk ash. Zeolite X was synthesized because it has many benefits, including as an adsorbent. Kaolin was used as raw material due to its high content of silica and alumina, which were 48.03% and 35.50% respectively. Meanwhile, silica from rice husk ash was used in the form of sodium silicate. Zeolite was synthesized through hydrothermal process inside a polypropylene bottles, by mixing metakaolin, the calcined form of kaolin heated at 700 °C for 6 hours, with sodium silicate and NaOH to activate the major components of Si and Al in the kaolin. Hydrothermal processes were carried out at 100 °C for 24 hours with NaOH concentrations of 1.5 N and 2.5 N. The concentration of NaOH used was resulted in certain type of zeolite obtained. Zeolite X was obtained when the addition 2.5 N NaOH with NaP1 and Faujasite as impurities. On the other hand, NaOH 1.5 N gave NaP1 zeolite. Modification of zeolite to nanocomposite zeolit/TiO2 was shown to have better capability, that was adsorption-photocatalytic property due to its ability to degrade methylene blue under ultraviolet light.