Enhancing Waste Management Through Nanosodalite Synthesis from Drinking Water Treatment Sludge and Thermal Power Plant Fly Ash: Valorization of the Produced Material for Adsorption Applications
摘要
This study focused on the synthesis of two low-cost, highly crystallized mesoporous nanosodalites from waste materials. SOD@DWTS/SiO2 was produced from drinking water treatment sludge (DWTS) and silicon dioxide (SiO2), while SOD@DWTS/FA was synthesized from DWTS and fly ash (FA). This approach valorizes waste, reduces landfill use, and lowers raw material costs. By adjusting the Si/Al ratio based on the differing waste compositions, the synthesis controlled the amounts of SiO2 and FA added. The resulting sodalites exhibited well-defined crystalline structures and spherical morphology, although their specific surface areas varied. Variations in the Si/Al ratio and substitution of commercial SiO2 with fly ash notably influenced material properties, including crystallinity. Both sodalites showed promising adsorption of AR97 dye, with maximum capacities of 90.91 mg/g for SOD@DWTS/SiO2 and 55.56 mg/g for SOD@DWTS/FA at pH 2 and ambient temperature, following the Langmuir model and demonstrating high efficiency. This work highlights the potential of transforming industrial by-products into valuable materials, contributing to waste management, materials science, and circular economy practices.