Non conventional synthesis of monoclinic celsian from Ba-exhanged zeolite A: study of the effect of residual Na and forming pressure

Four samples of Ba-exchanged zeolite A, bearing 0.27, 0.43, 0.58 and 0.74 meq/g Na residual amounts, were thermally treated in the temperature range 200-1500 °C for times up to 28 hours. The same samples were pressed at 30 and 60 MPa to manufacture cylindrical pellets, which were thermally treated at 1300 °C for 5 hours. Thermally treated materials were characterized by room temperature XRD. The sequence of thermal transformations that Ba-exchanged zeolite A undergoes (zeolite ® amorphous phase ® hexacelsian ® monoclinic celsian) and the strong mineralizing action developed by Na are confirmed. Pressing the Ba-exchanged zeolite A powder-like samples to obtain cylindrical pellets is found to expedite the sluggish final phase transition hexacelsian ® monoclinic celsian. The optimum residual Na content of Ba-exchanged zeolite A to be transformed into monoclinic celsian is assessed to range between 0.27 and 0.43 meq/g.