Method and apparatus for producing zeolite

Abstract

A composition comprising an incineration ash or an aluminosilicate as a raw material is added with an aqueous alkaline solution from an alkali storage tank ( 3 ) and heated. The resultant pre-mixture is then mixed and kneaded by a kneader ( 4 ) to prepare a kneaded mixture ( 19 ) in the form of a slurry or mud. The kneaded mixture ( 19 ) is moved continuously and irradiated directly with an electromagnetic wave of 300 MHz to 30 GHz in an electromagnetic wave irradiation unit ( 21 ), to thereby convert it to zeolite. The zeolite thus formed is cleaned by means of a cleaning machine ( 7 ) and dried with a rotary steam dryer ( 9 ). This method can be employed for producing an artificial zeolite with a reduced amount of alkali used and discharged, at a lower energy expenditure, and a reduced time for production.

1 . A method of producing zeolite comprising: 
 adding an aqueous alkaline solution to incineration ash or a composition containing aluminosilicate to form a mixture in the form of slurry or mud;    heating said mixture; and    directly irradiating said mixture with electromagnetic waves having frequencies ranging from 300 MHz to 30 GHz, while continuously moving said mixture, thereby forming the zeolite.    
     
     
         2 . The method of producing zeolite according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition is natural zeolite or zeolite which has not been converted into phillipsite.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus for producing zeolite comprising: 
 kneading means for adding an aqueous alkaline solution to incineration ash or a composition containing aluminosilicate to form a mixture and for kneading the mixture;    heating means for heating the mixture kneaded by said kneading means;    electromagnetic wave irradiation means for irradiating said heated mixture with electromagnetic waves to form zeolite;    cleaning means for cleaning said zeolite formed by the electromagnetic wave irradiation; and    drying means for drying the cleaned zeolite.