SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ZEOLITIC CATALYSTS BY THE PLACKETT AND BURMAN (PB) PLAN METHOD USING LOCAL MATERIALS FROM NIGER

Zeolite catalysts have become the most widely used materials in the crude oil refining industry. Zeolite catalysts were synthesized using clays (raw D1 and treated D2) and sand (SM) sampled in Niger (Maradi). Characterization tests were performed on D1, D2, and SM using conventional techniques (CEC, PAF, XRD, XRF, FT-IR, BET, and SEM). These techniques revealed the presence of 96% non-swelling clays and 4% swelling clays. The silica-alumina ratio (SAR) of the sand is 43.28. Based on these compositions, various chemical mixtures (D1, D2, SM, aluminum isopropoxide Al (OCH (CH3)2)3 or Al (O-i-Pr)3, sodium hydroxide NaOH, and distilled water) were prepared to synthesize the catalysts following the factor screening plan according to the Hadamard matrix. After synthesis, the experimental results showed that the influential factors are aluminum isopropoxide, clay, stirring time, drying time, and calcination temperature. Using the Boehm test, the screening plan made it possible to record a response characterizing the catalytic activity, namely the acidity (Yexp) on the surface of the catalysts. The results indicated that Yexp of the catalysts varies between 15 and 65 meq/g.