Application of high-purity zeolite a synthesized from different coal combustion by-products in carbon dioxide capture

Abstract

High-purity zeolites A were synthesized from different coal combustion by-products (baghouse filter fly ash, cyclone filter ash, and bottom ash) and characterized in terms of morphology, chemical, and mineralogical composition. The products were tested for carbon dioxide capture by using a continuous CO2 flow system passing through a column packed with the adsorbent material, which was connected to an analyser that directly measures the concentration of CO2. The values of CO2 adsorption capacities calculated for the unmodified Na-A zeolites (ZABF, ZACF, and ZABA) were 556.48, 494.29 and 654.82 mg g–1, respectively. These values were higher than those achieved by the calcium-modified zeolite samples. ZABA adsorbent presented the best performance in CO2 capture when compared to the other adsorbent material and achieved an adsorption capacity 32% higher than a 4A commercial zeolite. In the adsorption cycles study, the percentage of CO2 desorption by ZABA at the second and third cycles reached 93%, showing that zeolite A can be regenerated by heating at 150 ºC. The use of coal ashes to obtain zeolites and the application of these products for the CO2 adsorption can be an important strategy to mitigate both the problem of waste management and the greenhouse gases emission in coal-fired power plants.