Ultramarine pigments were successful synthesized from zeolite A obtained from kaolin
waste. This waste has been used as an excellent source of silicon and aluminum for zeolite
synthesis because of its high kaolinite concentrations and low contents of other accessory
minerals. The cost is naturally less than the industrialized product. The zeolite NaA derived
from kaolin waste presents characteristics favorable for synthesis ultramarine pigments, sulfur
species can be inserted inside the zeolite voids, which act as chromophores, and should
provide some protection against oxidation and avoids high levels of toxic gases during
reaction. Zeolite A was mixed with Sulfur and Sodium Carbonate in different proportions in
order to check the influence of this variation in color and shade of pigments. Further calcined
for 5 hs@500º C. They were characterized by XRD, XRF and, Raman in addition to visual
classification by color and shade. These products show colors from blue to green at different
shades, both influenced by the amount of additives, cooling rate after calcination and by
particle size. Thus, a different quantity of the same additives in the same zeolitic matrix
provides an increase in the color intensity, cooling rate after calcination and particle size
induces the color change. X-ray diffraction patterns showed that the structure of zeolite
NaA is not change in sodalite type as normally found in the literature. Raman spectroscopy
identified sulfur species responsible for color in zeolitic pigments. S6 2- is yellow and S3- is
blue and the mixture both is green, majority color in this work. Utilization the kaolin waste in
the production of zeolitic pigments is a good proposal for sustainable production.
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