Abstract: The residues from coal combustion are classified as a byproduct harmful to the environment, difficult for transportation and use. These are mainly fly and bottom ashes and slag. Although some of them find practical application, mainly in the construction industry, the majority is still stored. This is particularly true for ashes from power plants. Understandably, the disposal of ashes is of great ecological and economic importance. Recycling and recovery are the best available options here. Foreign experiences have shown that fly ashes can be a valuable resource for production of synthetic zeolites. Natural zeolites are used in numerous economic and industrial sectors. Their limited resources raise the need to look for and apply synthetic products. Since fly ashes obtained from coal are similar to natural zeolites in terms of structure and chemical composition, it is possible to use them as a raw material for the synthesis of zeolites. The aim of the research was to assess the possibility of zeolite synthesis from fly ash - obtained from the municipal power plant - by means of chemical conversion method. In the experiment, the coal ash collected from under electrostatic precipitators in Kielce Power Plant was used. The effect of chemical activation on the sorption properties of coal ash was examined. The chemical conversion consisted in fly ash - NaOH solution interaction under specified temperature and pressure. The influence of changes in the structure of individual grains of fly ash (SEM studies) on their sorption properties was estimated. The level of adsorption on the model stand was tested by means of spectrophotometric method using methylene blue. The modification results and sorption properties of ashes for the set parameters (NaOH concentration, temperature, reaction time) were assessed. The microscopic and X-ray observations as well as specific surface changes indicate that after modification new crystal structures improving sorption capacity were obtained
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