Raw materials were used to synthesize zeolite A as an alternative and more economical source of silica and aluminum, using waste from the kaolin of the paper industry. Zeolites are crystalline substances with a structure characterized by a framework of linked tetrahedra, each one consisting of four oxygen atoms surrounding a cation. The development of processes for the synthesis of zeolites is of great interest for use in the areas of purification, adsorption and catalysis.The starting materials for the synthesis of zeolite A consisted of wastes from kaolin beneficiation of paper companies of Pará state, Brazil.The zeolite was obtained after calcination at 85 and 110 ºC during 24 h.The chracterization of the starting material was performed by X-ray diffraction, chemical analysis, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis, and scanning electron microscopy.The characterization of zeolite A was done by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The kaolin waste used as starting material showed to be essentially kaolinite mineral. For the temperatures and time used in the synthesis it was possible to form the crystalline phase of zeolite A for the two starting materials.
synthesis; kaolin; zeolite A
