Adsorption of ions onto treated natural zeolite

Abstract

This work presents studies of modification of a natural zeolite by activation with Na+ cations and functionalisation with Ba+2 and/or Cu2+ ions (FZ). The zeolite was characterized, modified and applied in adsorption studies of sulphate and isopropilxanthate ions as flocculated and powdered forms. The reuse of SO4Ba-FZ was investigated by adsorption-removal of either Ba2+ or sulphate ions in stages. Equilibrium data showed that the FZ, flocculated or as powder, provide considerable removal of sulphate ions (qmLangmuir: 1.15 and 1.35 meq.g–1, respectively) and isopropilxanthate (qmLangmuir: 0.35 and 0.93 meq.g-1, respectively). The reuse of the SO4-FZ, either powdered or flocculated also uptake significant amount of Ba2+ or sulphate ions (qmLangmuir: 1.15 meq.g–1), providing a new alternative for the exhausted adsorbent. Thus the activated and functionalised zeolites create new options on the materials engineering area with applications in environmental applied adsorption processes.