SYNTHESIS AND STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION OF TEMPLATE FREE ZSM-5 ZEOLITE FROM RICE HUSK ASH

In this paper silica extracted from rice husk successfully. Furthermore, ZSM-5 zeolite was synthesized with rice husk as silica source without using structure directing agent. The effect ofsynthesis temperature on structural properties of ZSM-5 zeolite has been investigated. The XRD, FESEM and FTIR techniques were used to characterize zeolite phase evolution, surface morphologies and surface functional groups. Results from XRD patterns and FTIR spectra showed that the 180 °C isthe optimized temperature for synthesis of high crystalline zeolite. Moreover, the FESEM analysisshowed as synthesis temperature was changed, the morphology of samples changed obviously. According to the FESEM analysis, the zeolite which was synthesized at 180 °C showed the hexagonal like morphology