One-pot synthesis of zeolite NaX from agricultural waste for toluene removal application

Abstract

One-pot conversion of rice-husk ash, which is a huge agriculture solid waste in Vietnam, to a valuable nanoporous material (zeolite FAU type X) is reported. Combined zeolite-TiO₂ can be used as Adsorbent-Photocatalyst hybrid (APH) material for treatment of gaseous polluted VOCs. The combination of adsorption and photocatalyst methods in toluene treatment was investigated using TiO₂-containing composites on zeolite X support which was successfully generated from one-pot synthesis method with rice husk ash from agricultural waste. The structural properties of the zeolite and the APH were examined by X-ray diffraction analysis, SEM and TGA, while the effect of hydrothermal time and temperature to the one-pot process of zeolite X synthesis was investigated. The ability to handle the toluene of this composite was also studied under humid and dry conditions at a concentration about 1000 ppmv. The results indicate the accomplishment of one-pot synthesis method in creating zeolite X materials with FAU structure and high crystallinity, along with the toluene treatment efficiency of APH materials when combined with TiO₂ photocatalyst. This achievement encourages the implementation of one-pot synthesis process to create other VOCs treatment materials.