Zeolite Y synthesis from rice husk ash as Si source using hydrothermal and hydrothermal assisted ultrasound methods used in catalytic cracking of liquid hydrocarbons

In this research, zeolite Y was synthesized using extracted silica from rice husk ash as a silica source. Hydrothermal and hydrothermal assisted ultrasound methods were used for zeolite synthesis. Effect of ultrasound on physico-chemical properties of the synthesized sample has been investigated. The properties of the synthesized zeolites were determined using XRD, FESEM, FTIR and BET analysis and their performance were investigated in the catalytic cracking of liquid hydrocarbons in a fixed bed reactor. The gaseous and liquid products properties were determined using GC and SIMDIS analysis. Also density, viscosity and refractive index of the liquid products were ascertained. The results showed that the synthesized zeolite by ultrasound pretreatment prior hydrothermal method had approximately better catalytic performance because of the effect of ultrasound irradiations on the zeolite crystallinity and particles surface grooving. According to XRD results, the crystallinity of the synthesized zeolite by ultrasound pretreatment prior hydrothermal method was 21% greater than prepared sample using conventional hydrothermal method. By using the FTIR analysis after reaction test, it was shown that the structure of zeolite Y remained after reaction.