The Effects of Temperature on the Hydrothermal Synthesis of Hydroxyapatite-Zeolite Using Blast Furnace Slag

Abstract

Blast furnace slag, an industrial by-product, is emerging as a potential raw material to synthesize hydroxyapatite and zeolite. In this study, the effects of temperature on the hydrothermal synthesis of hydroxyapatite-zeolite from blast furnace slag were investigated. Specimens were synthesized at different temperatures (room temperature, 50, 90, 120, or 150 degrees C). The synthesized specimens were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively via X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), BET/BJH, and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive using X-ray analysis (SEM/EDX). It was found that the hydroxyapatite phase was synthesized at all the reaction temperatures, while faujasite type zeolite appeared in the specimens synthesized at 90 and 120 degrees C. Moreover, faujasite was replaced by hydroxysodalite in the specimens synthesized at 150 degrees C. Additionally, the crystals of the hydroxyapatite tended to become larger and total crystallinity increased as the reaction temperature increased.