Title: Removal of lead and zinc ions from aqueous solution using Amasya zeolites from Turkey

Authors: Nevzat Beyazit, Ibrahim Peker, Osman Nuri Ergun

Addresses: Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Cumhuriyet University, 58140 Sivas, Turkey. ' Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Cumhuriyet University, 58140 Sivas, Turkey. ' Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey '

Abstract: This paper deals with the removal of Pb2+ and Zn2+ ions from aqueous solutions using zeolitic minerals containing 45 wt.% clinoptilolite and 35 wt.% mordenite. The effects of particle size, zeolite/solution ratio, stirring time, and metal ion concentration on Pb2+ and Zn2+ removal were examined. The study showed that at at low metal concentrations the zeolite samples exhibited optimum efficiency at metal concentration around 22 mg/l for both Pb2+ and Zn2+, and Pb2+ ions were much more preferred by zeolites. More than 98% of the removal was achieved in the first five minutes for Pb2+, whereas the Zn2+ removal efficiency was around 90% for the same time. Pb2+ and Zn2+ adsorption capacities related to Langmuir isotherms were found to be 34.48 and 19.49 mg/g, respectively. In summary, it can be concluded that metal ions such as Pb2+ and Zn2+ can be removed with approximately 100% efficiency from aqueous solutions and wastewater containing similar ions using Amasya zeolites.

Keywords: Amasya; clinoptilolite; mordenite; Pb2+; removal; zeolite; Zn2+.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2003.003743

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2003 Vol.19 No.2, pp.160 - 170

Published online: 22 Dec 2003 *

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