Zeolites in powder form have the potential to agglomerate, lowering access to active sites. Furthermore, a suspension of fine zeolite powder in liquid media is difficult to separate. Such drawbacks could be improved by dispersing zeolite crystals on support materials. This work demonstrates the dispersion of zeolite NaY crystals on bamboo wood by mixing the wood with zeolite gel before hydrothermal treatment. The syntheses were performed with acid-refluxed and non-refluxed wood. The phase of zeolites, particle distribution and morphology, zeolite content in the wood, and zeolite-wood interaction were investigated using X-ray diffraction, X-ray tomography, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, nitrogen sorption analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Higher zeolite content and better particle dispersion were obtained in the synthesis with the acid-refluxed wood. The composite of NaY on the acid-refluxed wood was demonstrated to be an effective adsorbent for Ni(II) ions in aqueous solutions, providing a higher adsorbed amount of Ni(II) per weight of NaY.
Keywords: bamboo wood; nickel adsorption; zeolite NaY; zeolite particle dispersion; zeolite–wood composite.