Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 8(4) April 2013, Pages: x-x AENSI Journals Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences Journal home page: www.ajbasweb.com Corresponding Author:. Integrated Material Process, Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Center, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor Darul Takzim, Malaysia.Tel: +60 74537608;fax: +60 74536080; afiqahrosman@gmail.com (Rosman,N.) Phase Transformation of Rice Husk Ash in the synthesis of NaY Zeolite: Effect of ageing in short crystalline duration Nurafiqah Rosman * 1 , Zawati Harun 2 , Md Saidin Bin Wahab 3 , Siti Khadijah Hubadillah 4 ,Nurul Nabilah Aminudin 5 1,2,3,4 Advanced Material and Manufacturing Centre, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Batu Pahat 86400,Johor,Malaysia 5 Faculty of Science, Technology and Human Development, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Batu Pahat,86400, Johor, Malaysia ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article history: Received 13 November 2013 Accepted 23October 2013 Available online 30November 2011 Keywords: Rice husk ash, NaY zeolite, hydrothermal, ageing. Rice husk became a major product of rice-processing industries. Combustion of rice husk (RH) in air produces residues identified as rice husk ash (RHA) with content in SiO 2 that varies from 85- 95% based on the burning conditions, the type of furnace and the rice variety. Emphasizing on sustainable consumerism waste, rice husk ash can be used an alternative way to replace the constituent of silica element in zeolite frameworks. RH silica was prepared by burnt at 700 o C in 5 h. The zeolite gel was prepared in sodium form (NaY), hydrothermally synthesized using silica source from rice husk. The zeolite gel was prepared with the following batch composition: 3.4Na 2 O: Al 2 O 3 : 9.5 SiO 2 : 136H 2 O synthesized at various ageing time (8, 12, 24 h) in 12 and 24 h of crystallization reactions. The phase and morphology of the synthesis products were characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), respectively. XRD results indicated that phase transformation was occurred, wherein an amorphous phase of RHA has been transformed into crystalline phases. It was also showed that the ageing and crystallite duration affected the NaY zeolite crystallization process. As the crystallite reaction time is increased, the metastable phase was transformed into a more stable phase which is NaP zeolite. Presences of NaP zeolite obviously seen when prolonged of ageing duration up to 24h. Also, NaY zeolite product contained a mixture of NaA zeolite. This study also showed that the images of zeolite produced reflect on the XRD results attained. The optimum crystallization time for the synthesis of zeolite NaY with RHS in modified of simple and easy hydrothermal route was 8h of crystallite reaction with age of 8h. © 2013 AENSI Publisher All rights reserved. To Cite This Article: Rosman, N., Harun, Z.,Hubadillah, S.K., Aminudin, N.N., Phase Transformation of Rice Husk Ash in the synthesis of NaY Zeolite: Effect of ageing in short crystalline duration. Aust. J. Basic & Appl. Sci., 7(13): x-x, 2013 INTRODUCTION Rice husk (RH) becomes one of the most abundance agricultural products in Malaysia. A million tons of rice husks, which can be considered as agricultural waste, are thrown as a waste every year and usually ends up with open burning process, causes environmental pollution and disposal problems. Discovering and recovering high value materials from RHs is becoming a potential research since burning and decomposition of RH will produce a value silica compound. In fact, due to growing environmental concern, and the need to