Synthesis of Zeolite-X from Tuncbilek fly ash and investigation of usage as adsorbent

Every year, our world faces millions of fly ash as a waste of thermal power plants. The storage of these ashes is a big economical and environmental problem. The industrial ecology concept is a valuable approach to the evaluation of fly ashes since 1989. Fly ashes can be used as a raw material for zeolite synthesis due to the silica and alumina compounds they have. In this thesis, Zeolite-X synthesis has been achieved from both pure chemicals and Tuncbilek fly ashes. Two different methods; alkali fusion and ultrasonic assisted alkali fusion have been studied for the Zeolite-X synthesis from Tuncbilek fly ashes. Taguchi experimental design method has been used to define the optimum synthesis parameters for a better understanding of the effective factors on production in the highly complex Zeolite-X synthesis. Both samples obtained in optimum conditions have been compared with the commercial Zeolite-X. Besides many other areas, Zeolite-X is commonly used in the adsorption processes. The use of Zeolite-X in the benzene and toluene adsorption - which are the common volatile organic composites for sick building syndrome that causes thousands of deaths worldwide - has been examined in the study.