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Zeolite A - Powder
(Detergent Grade)
Introduction
Zeolites are crystalline hydrated alumino
silicates with a framework of an indefinitely extending three
dimensional network of sulphate and aluminate ion tetrahedrons
linked to each other by sharing oxygen, enclosing cavities
occupied by cations as well as water molecules, both of which
have considerable freedom of movement permitting certain exchange
and reversible dehydration. The most important property of
zeolite is its adsorption characteristics and it can act as
molecular-sieve i.e. it can separate particles based upon
difference in the molecular sizes of the materials to be separated.
It can also selectively adsorb or reject molecules based on
differences in shape and other properties such as polarity.
These characteristics of zeolite have resulted in its principal
use as water softening agent in detergent industry and other
sectors.
In the commercial production of detergents the principal raw
materials are "active material" and "phosphate
builders". The sodium tripoly phosphate (STPP) is mostly
used as phosphate builder in detergent industry. However,
in recent years there has been an upsurge of interest in the
builder Zeolite-A for the detergent industry. The most important
resin is the increased awareness and concern about the polluting
effect on the environment by the phosphate builders used in
most of the detergents all over the world. Legislative measures
were also enacted in many countries to stop or curtail the
use of phosphate builders detergents. This has led to the
development and use of Zeolite-A as phosphate substitute.
Process
Sodium Aluminate liquor is dissolved
in calculated quantity of water and required quantity of caustic
soda is added to obtain required Na2O:Al2O3 ratio.Sodium silicate
is dissolved in calculated quantity water and here also caustic
soda is added to attain the required Na2O : SiO2 ratio.
Sodium aluminate and sodium silicate solutions
are then reacted under controlled conditions to obtain a Gel.
The Gel is heated for the formation of complex- composition
known as Zeolite- A. The filtrate containing caustic soda
is partly recycled and partly can be sold as by- product.
The water in filter- cake is removed by compressed air. The
wet cake is dried, pulverised and packed in HDPE woven bags.
Specification
| Characteristics |
Limit |
| Calcium binding capacity
( mg CaO/gm of dry Zeolite) |
160 (Min) |
| Particle size analysisa)
% finer than 4.5 m .m:b) Avg. Particle size d5(Sedigraph) |
85 + 10Not more than
4 m m |
| pH ( 5 % slurry) |
11 +.0.5 |
| Mole composition (Based
on Chem analysis) |
1.0 + 0.2 Na2O1.0 Al2O31.85
+ 0.5 SiO26.0 H2O, Max |
| Bulk density, gms/ cc |
0.45 + 0.1 |
| Crystallinity ( X-- Ray
defractions as compared with 4A BDH powder) |
90 % , Min |
| Whiteness index |
95 %, Min |
Plant Parameters
| Capacity, TPA |
10,000 |
| Number of shifts |
3 |
| Working days / Yr |
330 |
| Land Area, m2 |
6,000 |
| Covered Area, m2 |
4,000 |
Manpower
| Managerial |
7 |
| Skilled Worker |
15 |
| Unskilled Worker |
38 |
Raw Material (Tonne per Tonne of Product)
| Sod. Aluminate liquor, m3 |
2.3 |
| Sod. Silicate, T |
1.03 |
| Caustic lye, T |
0.5 |
Utilities (Per Tonne of product)
| Power, KwH |
350 |
| Condensate Water, KL |
510 |
| Filtered water, KL |
0.3 |
| Cooling water, KL |
30 |
| Steam, T |
3 |
| Fuel (LDO), KL |
0.2 |
| Compress air, Nm3 /hr. |
6 |
Plant & Machinery
| Storage tanks |
Reactors |
| Preparation tanks |
Slurry tanks |
| Filter press |
Heat exchanger |
| Spray dryer |
Boiler |
For further information please
contact :
National Research Development Corporation
( A Government of India Enterprise )
20-22, Zamroodhpur Community Center
Kailash Colony Extension
New Delhi 110 048. India
Tel: 91-11-26419904, 26417821, 26480767, 26432627
Fax: 011-26231877, 26460506, 26478010
Website: www.nrdcindia.com
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