Effective conversion of fly ash waste into Na-P1 zeolite and its application on the adsorption of Cr(VI)

[Display omitted] •Fly ash waste successfully converted into Na-P1 zeolite for recycling.•Highly crystalline nano-sized Na-P1 was synthesized via hydrothermal at 140 °C.•Synthesized Na-P1 zeolite exhibits a remarkable adsorption capacity for Cr(VI). Fly ash waste was transformed into Na-P1 zeolite using hydrothermal treatment as a sustainable recycling approach. The synthesized zeolite exhibited high crystallinity (96.87%), small size, and high surface area (87.20 m2/g), making it a promising adsorbent for heavy metals. Notably, Na-P1 zeolite showed significant adsorption capacity for Cr(VI) (13.5 mg g−1), indicating its potential for environmental remediation. This work highlights the potential of utilizing fly ash waste as a raw material for the synthesis of zeolites which could be applied for cost-effective adsorption processes.