Calcination effects on meta-forms of kaolin and halloysite: Role of Al-Si spinel crystallization in zeolite synthesis

2025-06-01
The role of Al-Si spinel crystallization during high-temperature calcination of kaolin and halloysite was investigated to optimize the direct synthesis of zeolites 4A and 13X without additional silica or structure-directing agents. Differential thermogravimetry (DTG) and in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SR-XRD) tracked dehydroxylation and Al-Si spinel crystallization, revealing complete dehydroxylation at 575 °C for kaolin and 500 °C for halloysite, with spinel crystallization occurring in a range of 900–940 °C for both clays. Calcination promoted the formation of Al-Si spinel and amorphous silica, increasing the Si/Al ratio and enabling control of zeolite composition and porosity. Calcination conditions determined the zeolite type, evolving from pure 4A to a mixture of 4A/13X, and finally pure 13X. The presence of Al-Si spinel in 13X enhanced mesoporosity, introducing voids and channels between micropores and contributing to high BET surface areas (>500 m2/g) with a dual micro/mesoporous structure. This study establishes a direct link between calcination parameters and zeolite properties, highlighting Al-Si spinel's role in phase transitions and porosity development. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing industrial applications such as adsorption and catalysis.
Microporous and Mesoporous Materials
Citation Formats
P. Paşabeyoğlu and B. Akata Kurç, “Calcination effects on meta-forms of kaolin and halloysite: Role of Al-Si spinel crystallization in zeolite synthesis,” Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, vol. 391, pp. 0–0, 2025, Accessed: 00, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=105001670251&origin=inward.