Zeolite synthesized from coal fly ash was modified with different concentrations (2 and 20 mmol.L-1) of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMA-Br). The Non-Modified Zeolite (NMZ) and Surfactant-Modified Zeolites (SMZ) were characterized by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, among others. The SMS presented negative charge probably due to the formation of a partial bilayer of HDTMA on exchangeable active sites on the external surface of NMZ. A decrease in surface area was observed for SMZ as compared to NMZ indicating zeolite surface coverage with HDTMA-Br molecules. The crystalline nature of the zeolite remained intact after adsorption of surfactant and heating for drying. FTIR analysis indicated that there were no significant changes in the structure of the zeolite after adsorption of surfactant.
coal fly ash; surfactant-modified zeolite; cationic surfactant
