Banca de DEFESA: SWIANNY PERTTESON ARRUDA DE OLIVEIRA

Uma banca de DEFESA de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : SWIANNY PERTTESON ARRUDA DE OLIVEIRA
DATE: 22/04/2026
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: video conferencia
TITLE:

Utilization of Lithium Production Chain Waste
As a Zeolitic Precursor: Influence of Pre-treatments
Physico-chemical in the Synthesis of LTA and FAU of the NAX type.

 

KEY WORDS:

silicoaluminate residue; LTA zeolite; FAU (NaX) zeolite; alkaline digestion;

alkaline fusion; mechanochemical activation; Lithium.

PAGES: 151
BIG AREA: Engenharias
AREA: Engenharia de Materiais e Metalúrgica
SUBÁREA: Materiais Não-Metálicos
SPECIALTY: Cerâmicos
SUMMARY:

The processing of lithium-bearing minerals, such as spodumene, generates significant

volumes of silicoaluminous solid residues. Due to the presence of mineral phases with

high thermochemical stability, such as quartz and spodumene, this material represents a

challenging environmental liability, with limited recycling potential. As a valorization

alternative, this study aimed to develop and evaluate methodologies for the synthesis of

LTA and FAU (NaX) zeolites from this residue of the lithium production chain. The

research investigated the influence of different precursor pre-treatment routes—alkaline

digestion and alkaline fusion, with or without mechanical milling—correlating energy

consumption with the crystallinity, morphology, and textural properties of the obtained

materials. The syntheses were compared with commercial standards and characterized by

techniques such as XRD, SEM, and N₂ physisorption. The results demonstrated that

obtaining zeolitic phases from the residue necessarily requires the application of pre-

treatments, as no crystallization of the raw material was observed within 24 hours.

Alkaline digestion, characterized by lower energy demand, enabled the synthesis of LTA

with an optimal time of 4 hours and 37.21% relative crystallinity, but proved ineffective

for NaX formation. In contrast, alkaline fusion showed greater efficiency in dissolving

stable siliceous phases, promoting the formation of more satisfactory zeolitic structures.

Notably, the NaXRF zeolite obtained via alkaline fusion achieved 83.34% crystallinity

and high morphological correspondence to the standard. The milling step was shown to

increase surface area and generate structural defects beneficial to nucleation; however,

excessive mechanical energy favored particle aggregation and the formation of secondaryphases (sodalite), requiring careful optimization of these parameters. It is concluded that

lithium-bearing residue is a viable alternative source of silicon and aluminum. The

selection of the ideal synthesis route depends on the balance between energy consumption

and the structural requirements of the final application, with alkaline digestion being

suitable for less demanding uses, and alkaline fusion combined with optimized milling

recommended for the development of high-purity materials.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - 1308577 - SIBELE BERENICE CASTELLA PERGHER
Interno - 1350249 - RUBENS MARIBONDO DO NASCIMENTO
Externo ao Programa - ***.646.554-** - LEONARDO LEANDRO DOS SANTOS - UFRN
Externo à Instituição - ADONAY RODRIGUES LOIOLA - UFC