ZEOLITE AND PREPARATION METHOD THEREFOR
Disclosed is a method of producing zeolite that includes obtaining a lithium residue including aluminosilicate from lithium ore including lithium oxide; washing the lithium residue to adjust the pH of the lithium residue; adjusting a molar ratio of silicon to aluminum (Si/Al) included in the lithium residue; preparing a hydrogel by adding an alkali material to the lithium residue; and preparing crystals by crystallizing the lithium residue in the form of a hydrogel.
1 . A method of producing zeolite, comprising
obtaining a lithium residue including aluminosilicate from lithium ore including lithium oxide;
washing the lithium residue to adjust the pH of the lithium residue;
adjusting a molar ratio of silicon to aluminum (Si/Al) included in the lithium residue;
preparing a hydrogel by adding an alkali material to the lithium residue; and
preparing crystals by crystallizing the lithium residue in the form of a hydrogel.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
the obtaining of the lithium residue comprises
heat-treating the lithium ore;
pulverizing the heat-treated lithium ore;
precipitating lithium sulfate from the pulverized lithium ore; and
leaching and separating the lithium sulfate into water.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein
In the heat-treating of the lithium ore,
the lithium ore is heat-treated at a temperature of 900 to 1200° C.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
in the obtaining of the lithium residue,
the lithium residue comprises
20 to 30 wt % of alumina (Al 2 O 3 ), 60 to 70 wt % of silica (SiO 2 ), 10 wt % or less of at least one of iron oxide (Fe 2 O 3 ), calcium oxide (CaO), sodium oxide (Na 2 O), and potassium oxide (K 2 O) based on total 100 wt %.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
in the adjusting of the pH of the lithium residue,
the lithium residue is washed to remove the sulfate ion (SO 4 2− ) from the lithium residue.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
in the adjusting of the pH of the lithium residue,
the pH of the lithium residue is adjusted to 6 to 8.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
in the adjusting a molar ratio of silicon to aluminum (Si/Al),
the molar ratio of silicon to the aluminum (Si/Al) is adjusted to 0.75 to 3.0 by adding an alumina supplement material to the lithium residue.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein
the alumina supplement material comprises
one or more of alumina hydrate (Al(OH) 3 and sodium aluminate (NaAlO 2 ).
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
in the adding of an alkali material to the lithium residue,
the alkali material is a sodium hydroxide aqueous solution having a concentration of 1.0 to 6.0 M.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
in the preparing of the crystals,
the lithium residue is crystallized at a temperature of 60 to 100° C.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
in the preparing of the crystals,
the lithium residue is crystallized for at least 12 hours.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
in the preparing of the crystals,
the lithium residue in the form of a hydrogel is crystallized while stirring at 300 to 600 rpm.
13 . The method of claim 1 , which further comprises
filtering the crystals; and
washing and drying the filtered crystals
after the preparing of the crystals.
14 . A zeolite having a crystal phase comprising at least one an A-type zeolite, an X-type zeolite, and a P-type zeolite and
comprising 0.005 wt % or less (excluding 0 wt %) of hydroxysodalite (Na 8 (AlSiO 6 ) 4 (OH) 2 ), analcime (NaAlSi 2 O 6 .H 2 O), and SOD based on total 100 wt %.