Synthesis of magnetic zeolites from recycled fly ash for adsorption of methylene blue

Coal fly ash (CFA) was obtained from the Sochagota TermoPaipa IV power plant in Boyacá Colombia. CFA was subjected to a hydrothermal activation with NaOH. Morphology, elemental and mineralogical composition and magnetic properties of the obtained products were studied by means of SEM-EDX, XRD and VSM. Activation with NaOH (4–5 M) between 80 and 150 °C for 24 h produced cancrinite zeolite; activation with NaOH at 2 and 3 M at 95 °C produced analcime zeolite. It was found out, that the synthesized zeolites exhibit a ferrimagnetic behavior due to iron coming from CFA. The magnetic response of the obtained products allows the use of these materials to environmental applications in aqueous medium. Adsorption test for methylene blue was performed for an analcime and cancrinite zeolite, the results show that equilibrium is reached after 60 min. The data of adsorption isotherms for analcime and cancrinite zeolite were fitted to Freundlich and Langmuir model, respectively. The synthesized zeolites from CFA were successfully used to remove methylene blue from aqueous solution.