INVESTIGATION OF NATURAL ANALCIME-RICH ZEOLITE TUFF FROM TURKEY: A COMBINED XRD, XRF, FT-IR AND SEM STUDY

Abstract

In this study, chemical and structural properties of natural analcime-rich zeolite tuff from Turkey and that of ion-exchanged forms investigated. The microporous structure and the presence of extra-framework cations are of great importance for characterizing the unique properties of zeolites. Ion-exchanged forms (K+, H+ and Ca2+) of analcime zeolite were prepared with 1 M KNO3,1 M Ca(NO3)2 and 1 M HCl solutions in a shaker for 6 hours at 80 °C. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. Quantitative XRD analysis showed that the major component of the natural zeolite was analcime, together with varying amounts of quartz, feldspar and clay mineral.