IntroductionGeopolymers, also called inorganic polymers, are classified as synthetic aluminosilicate materials characterized by many interesting properties. This group of materials has gained a lot of attention in the past 10 years (measured by increasing number of publications) and raised high expectations concerning their applicability. Geopolymers are usually hard, mechanically resistant materials, therefore many attempts to substitute Portland cement in the construction industry have been taken [1]. Despite the huge number of publications devoted to this family and hundreds of new examples of these materials, researching them is still pioneering [2]. Attempts to systematize their structures and properties are just beginning to appear.Geopolymers are considered as zeolite precursors, thus zeolites are often detected in geopolymer gels. Activation of metakaolinite with sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide solutions at various temperatures (20-100ºC) can lead to the geopolymer-zeolite hybrid materials containing zeolite A, sodalite, and zeolite Y [3]. During hydrothermal treatment at low temperature, depending on the synthesis conditions, metakaolin-based geopolymeric gel transforms into zeolite ZSM-20, zeolite Na-P1, faujasite, sodalite, and analcime [4]. Metakaolin-based geopolymeric gel was also used for hydrothermal preparation of a faujasite zeolite membrane for alcohol/water separation [5]. On the other hand, non-hydrothermal preparation of Na-A zeolite membranes from chemosynthetic Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 powder and sodium silicate solution by the geopolymer gel thermal conversion at 60ºC is possible [6].Pol. J. Environ. Stud. Vol. 26, No. 6 (2017), 2611-2617
AbstractThis study investigated the influence of alkali activation process conditions on the amount and types of zeolites in the resultant geopolymers. The products were formed during the alkaline activation of coal fly ash with the use of aluminium and sodium hydroxide solution. Geopolymers were cured at 80ºC for 24 h. The effects of reaction systems' constitution (expressed as SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 and Al 2 O 3 /Na 2 O molar ratios) on the phase composition and structure of obtained products were determined. The results indicated that the products obtained from such hydrothermal treatment demonstrated the characteristics of zeolite-like materials -sodalite. By using the appropriate composition of the initial solution (sufficiently high concentration of NaOH and aluminum carrier), it is possible to synthesize the sodalite phase efficiently in an amorphous matrix.