ZSM-5 Zeolite Synthesis from Coal Fly Ash Synthesised Silica: Sole Silica & Alumina Source

This study explores the synthesis of ZSM-5 zeolite using high-purity mesoporous silica exclusively derived from coal fly ash (CFA), eliminating the need for additional silica or alumina sources. Traditional ZSM-5 synthesis relies on costly and environmentally harmful pure chemicals, whereas this approach utilizes CFA, an industrial byproduct, addressing both cost and sustainability concerns. The synthesized ZSM-5 zeolite demonstrates exceptional purity, with a surface area of 455.24 m²/g, and exhibits unique structural properties, confirmed through XRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR, TGA, and BET analyses. This method highlights the potential of CFA-derived silica as a sustainable feedstock for zeolite production, promoting both environmental sustainability and cost-effective industrial applications in catalysis, adsorption, and separation processes.