Natural clinoptilolites as effective adsorbents of chemical pollutants
Special Symposium - Environmental Protection & Sustainability
Environmental Protection & Sustainability (EPS - Poster)
Keywords: clinoptilolite, adsorption
Removal of chemical pollutants has recently become a subject of profound importance. Many methods have been proposed for removal of chemical pollutants, among them a very effective one based on adsorption. The materials used for adsorption should be characterised by large surface area and appropriate porous structure. The materials meeting these conditions include natural zeolites and clay minerals. The former show high adsorption activity but are very expensive, while the latter are much cheaper and can reach effectiveness similar to that of zeolites.
The aim of the study is to determine the physicochemical properties and adsorption capability of natural clinoptilolites and their comparison with the characteristics of similar materials used in foreign countries. At first the chemical and phase composition of these materials was determined. The natural clinoptilolites were subjected to IR spectroscopy and thermo-gravimetric analysis. Their surface area BET and their pore distribution were established by low-temperature nitrogen adsorption. The adsorption capacity was tested in the model systems in the first series against such compounds as methylene chloride, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and trichloroethylene, while in the second series – against phenol. In the third series of tests the adsorption capacity of clinoptilolites was determined against model dyes such as methylene blue, methyl violet and syntene blue.
The results have shown much diversity of the chemical, phase and textural properties of the clinoptilolites, determining their different adsorptive behaviour. The presentation is devoted to detail characterisation of these materials.
Presented Monday 17, 13:30 to 15:00, in session Environmental Protection & Sustainability (EPS - Poster) S-7P.
