High capacity cation exchanger by hydrothermal zeolitization of coal fly ash

During hydrothermal treatment in NaOH medium coal fly ash partially transformed to zeolite P and/or hydroxysodalite, while quartz slowly dissolved and mullite remained stable. Residual coal favored the formation of zeolite P. The relative proportion of the two zeolites could be changed by seeding. During fusion of fly ash with NaOH an endothermic reaction at 170-180 degrees C occurred, resulting in formation of an unreported Na aluminosilicate with approximate composition Na15Si4Al3O20 and major XRD reflections at 4.793, 3.828, 3.000, 2.854, 2.578, and 2.524 Angstrom. The product of fusion interacted with water giving aluminosilicate gel, which yielded zeolite P upon hydrothermal treatment at 100 degrees C without aging and zeolite X after aging in water for 12 hours at room temperature. Cation exchange capacity was 420 and 400 meq/100 g for zeolite P and zeolite X respectively.