ZSM-5 zeolite was successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal reaction method using siliceous mudstone. The major chemical composition of siliceous mudstone is 85.85 wt.% of SiO2 and 6.99 wt.% of Al2O3, and the crystalline phases are opal-CT, quartz, smectite and muscovite. The experimental conditions were varied with the weight ratio between sodium silicate solution (SS) and siliceous mudstone (S-M) from 0.8 to 1.6, the reaction temperature from 130 to 200 degrees C and reaction time from 12 to 30 hours. Within these experimental conditions, the most suitable combination to synthesize ZSM-5 zeolite was SS/SM = 1.2, reaction temperature = 170 degrees C and reaction time = 24 hours. The particle shape was a faceted-sphere and the median particle size was 5.2 mu m. The BET surface area was 324 m(2).g(-1) after calcination at 500 degrees C and this value was sustained up to 700 degrees C.

Keywords: hydrothermal reaction; siliceous mudstone; sodium silicate; ZSM-5 zeolite; BET surface area; thermal stability