Crystallization kinetics of Na7.4(AlSiO4)6(CO3)0.7·4H2O, an intermediate phase between cancrinite and sodalite, grown under low temperature hydrothermal conditions

During low temperature hydrothermal alkaline conversion of kaolinite in the presence of sodium carbonate a disordered phase crystallizes showing structural features between the sodalite and cancrinite minerals. A detailed study of its formation field and the kinetics of crystallization is the first step for further investigations of this zeolite-like material. The crystallization kinetics was investigated in the early stage of the reaction for times up to 192 h at a temperature of 353 K. Besides X-ray powder diffraction²⁷Al MAS NMR has been found to be the preferred method to follow the reaction kinetics because a signal assigned to six-coordinated aluminium of the starting kaolinite can be clearly distinguished from a second resonance, being typical for aluminium in four-coordinate position of an aluminosilicate framework structure. Important conclusions can also be drawn from the experiments for the synthesis of ideal ordered cancrinites.