Influence of the exchangeable cations on SO<Subscript>2</Subscript> adsorption capacities of clinoptilolite-rich natural zeolite

The sulfur dioxide adsorption on clinoptilolite-rich tuff from Bigadiç region of Western of Turkey and its modified forms (Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺) have been studied at 273 K and 293 K up to 100 kPa. The structural properties of clinoptilolites were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). The quantitative XRD analysis demonstrated that the Natural-B sample is mainly constituted by clinoptilolite (80–85%) with minor contents of quartz (7–8%), feldspar (5–6%) and mica-illit (4–5%). It was found out that the adsorption capacity and the affinity of SO₂ with clinoptilolite samples depended mainly on the type of exchanged cations and decreased as Na-B > K-B > Mg-B > Natural-B > Ca-B for both temperature. These results show that clinoptilolite-rich zeolites are considered potentially good adsorbents for SO₂ removal.     

Decationization and dealumination of clinoptilolite tuff and ammonium exchange on acid-modified tuff

The paper presents results of investigation of exchange of the clinoptilolite tuff cations with hydrogen ions from HCl solution of concentration 0.1 mmol cm(-3) and ammonium ions solutions of concentrations 0.0071 to 2.6 mmol cm(-3). Molal concentrations, x (mmol g(-1)) of cations exchanged in acid solution and in ammonium ions solutions were compared with molal concentrations of cations obtained by determination of the cation-exchange capacity of clinoptilolite tuff. The obtained results show that at ammonium ion concentrations lower than 0.1 mmol cm(-3), with regard to exchange capacity for particular ions, best exchanged are Na+ ions, followed by Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions, while exchange of K+ ions is the poorest (Na+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ > K+). At ammonium concentrations from 0.2 to 1 mmol cm(-3) the order is Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+. At concentrations higher than 1 mmol cm(-3) the order is Na+ > Ca2+ > K+ > Mg2+. The results are a consequence of the uptake of hydrogen ions by zeolite samples in ammonium ions solutions at concentrations lower than 1 mmol cm(-3) and indicate the importance of Mg2+ (besides Na+ ions) for the exchange between clinoptilolite cations and H+ ions, in contrast to K+ ions, whose participation in the reaction with H+ ions is the lowest. During decationization of the clinoptilolite in acid solution, best exchanged are Na+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ ions, while exchange of K+ ions is the poorest. Due to poor exchange of K+ and H+ ions and good exchange of Na+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ ions, it is to be assumed that preservation of stability of the clinoptilolite structure is caused by K+ ions present in the channel C. Clinoptilolite is dissolved in the clinoptilolite A and B channels where Na+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ ions are present. On the acid-modified clinoptilolite samples, exchange of ammonium ions is poorer than on natural zeolite. The longer the contact time of the zeolite and acid solution, the worse ammonium ions exchange. It can be assumed that H+ ions exchanged with zeolite cations are consumed for solution of aluminum in the clinoptilolite structure; therefore the concentration of H+ ions as exchangeable cations decreases. In the ammonium ion solution at a concentration of 0.0065 mmol cm(-3), from the acid-modified zeolite samples, Al3+ ions are exchanged best, followed by Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, and K+ ions. Further to the results, it is to be assumed that exchangeable Al3+ ions available from clinoptilolite dissolution are best exchanged with H+ ions in acid solution.     

Iodide adsorption on the surface of chemically pretreated clinoptilolite

The possibility to use the monoionic Ag⁺-form (eventually Hg⁺- and Hg²⁺- forms) of clinoptilolite of domestic origin for radioactive iodide elimination from waters has been studied. The capacity of the monoforms of clinoptilolite towards iodide exceeds many times that of the capacity of clinoptilolite in natural form. Due to the low solubility product of AgI, Hg₂I₂ and HgI₂ iodides generate precipitates on the zeolite surface. Rtg analyses of the silver form of clinoptilolite after sorption of iodide demonstrate the formation of new crystals on the zeolite surface. The influence of interfering anions on the adsorption capacity of silver clinoptilolite towards iodide was investigated, too. Kinetic curves of iodide desorption from the surface of silver and mercury clinoptilolite were compared. Simultaneously, adsorption isotherms for the systems aqueous iodide solution/Ag^–, Hg-clinoptilolite were determined.     

Selective Catalytic Reduction of Nitric Oxide by Ammonia over Ag and Zn‐Exchanged Cuban Natural Zeolites

The catalytic selective reduction of NO over metal‐exchanged (Zn^II, Ag^I) natural zeolites (mordenite and clinoptilolite) from Cuba using NH₃ as a reducing agent in the presence of excess oxygen was studied. Both transition metals slightly improve the catalytic performance for the NO reduction. Zn^II‐exchanged zeolites exhibit a moderate catalytic activity, with conversions of NO of ≈58 % and high selectivity to N₂ at high temperatures.     

Investigation of clinoptilolite rich natural zeolites from Turkey: a combined XRF,TG/DTG,DTA and DSC study

Turkey clinoptilolite-rich tuffs from Gördes and Bigadiç regions of western of Anatolia and their exchanged forms (K⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺) were characterized by TG/DTG-DTA, DSC and XRF methods and the surface areas were also determined for both tuffs. TG-DTG and DTA curves of all clinoptilolite samples were measured in the temperature range 30–1000 °C. All clinoptilolite samples had major, rapid mass losses between 30 and 200 °C, with slower and less significant mass losses at higher temperatures. The mass loss of the Natural-G is 9.54% while that of the Natural-B sample is 10.50%. Water content increases in the order of K < Na < Ca < Mg for Bigadiç clinoptilolite samples and in the following sequence K < Na < Mg < Ca for Gördes clinoptilolite samples. One mass loss step for all clinoptilolite samples was observed using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) in the range of 30–550 °C.     

Adsorption of nitrogen from natural gas by clinoptilolite

Much of world’s natural gas reserves are impure, one of the principal contaminants being nitrogen which makes it unsuitable for application and, hence, its separation is important. In this research, clinoptilolite, the most abundant natural zeolite with an open aluminosilicate framework structure and high internal surface area, was modified by ion exchange process to highly exchanged forms of cations of Na⁺, K⁺ and H⁺. The adsorption of N₂, CH₄ and C₂H₆ on natural clinoptilolite (Cp) and on its cation-exchanged forms (Na-Cp, K-Cp and H-Cp) was studied at 25 °C. The influence of cation exchange on equilibrium adsorption of N₂ showed that selectivity decreased in the order of Cp > Na-Cp > K-Cp and H-Cp has no affinity to nitrogen.     

Removal of ammonia from waste air streams with clinoptilolite tuff in its natural and treated forms

Natural and impregnated clinoptilolite tuffs were studied to assess their potential to remove ammonia from air and, in a subsequent application, to use the spent adsorbent as a fertilizer. H₂SO₄, H₃PO₄ and HNO₃, as agents containing important plant nutrients compatible with soil, were selected for impregnation to enhance sorption capacity of the natural clinoptilolite tuffs for ammonia removal. Sorbents were characterized using N₂ adsorption isotherms at 77 K, X-ray analysis and high pressure mercury porosimetry. Ammonia breakthrough curves on fixed beds of sorbent were determined using appropriate NH₃ and H₂O input concentrations, flow rates and temperatures similar to the conditions in animal breeding farms. Impregnated clinoptilolite tuffs showed adsorption capacities comparable to SSP-4, an activated carbon that is commercially used for NH₃ removal. Impregnations with H₂SO₄ and HNO₃ are particularly important, since such modified adsorbents exhibit relatively high breakthrough capacities, thus rendering them potentially useful for practical applications in controlling ammonia emissions. The main contribution to the sorption capacity enhancement on impregnated clinoptilolite tuff samples seems to be due to the chemical reaction of ammonia with acids remaining in the macro- and mesopores.     

Selective ion exchange onto Slovakian natural zeolites in aqueous solutions

Ion exchange isotherms have been measured and plotted for the uptake of cesium, barium, cobalt, zinc, silver and amonium onto clinoptilolite- and mordenite-rich tuffs of Slovakian origin selectively for both the natural and near homoionic Na form as well, using the radioanalytical determination. The higher quality clinoptilolite-rich tuff has been proven to be effective for a potential radionucleides removal in native form according to the following selectivity sequence: Ag⁺,Ba²,Cs⁺>NH₄ ⁺>Co²⁺, while parent tuff in Na exchanged variety exhibited a little different sequence according to: Ag⁺?>?NH₄ ⁺?>?Ba²⁺?>?Cs⁺. The raw and Na exchanged mordenite-rich tuffs proved subsequently more or less similar selectivity : Ag⁺?>?Zn²⁺?>?Cs⁺, Ba²⁺?>?Co²⁺ and Ag⁺?>?Zn²⁺.     

Removal of toxic hexavalent chromium by polyaniline modified clinoptilolite nanoparticles

In this work clinoptilolite nanoparticles were modified with conducting polyaniline by the polymerization of anilinium cations in and out side of the clinoptilolite channels and a nanocomposite of polyaniline/clinoptilolite was obtained. Cations (Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺...) in the natural clinoptilolite structure were exchanged with anilinium cations by the treatment of clinoptilolite nanoparticles in an acidic solution of aniline monomer. The cation exchange process was confirmed by elemental analysis of nitrogen and carbon atoms of anilinium cations in clinoptilolite dry powder after treatment. The polyaniline/clinoptilolite nanocomposite was obtained by the oxidative polymerization of anilinium cations within the clinoptilolite structure. The polyaniline/clinoptilolite nanocomposite was characterized utilizing FT-IR and X-ray diffraction measurements and was used for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions in chromate anion form as an important water pollutant. The effect of a number of parameters such as initial concentration of Cr(VI), amount of nanocomposite and contact time on the removal efficiency of Cr(VI) by polyaniline/clinoptilolite nanocomposite were determined and optimized. It was found that after 5 min of exposure of nanocomposite powder with Cr(VI) solutions in the concentration range of 25 to 100 ppm, more than 98% of chromate anions can be removed and the Cr(VI) removal capacity per one gram of nanocomposite is about 0.3 mmol of Cr(VI).     

Sorption of radionuclides on natural materials

Information about the sorption of radionuclides on natural materials used for cementation of liquid radioactive wastes (RAW) is important for predictions of migration rates of radionuclides in the products of fixation. Cementation process for conditioning liquid RAW uses, besides cement, materials which improve quality of products. In Czechoslovakia technology among these materials are clinoptilolite tuffit, mordenite tuff, tobermorite and fly ash. Liquid RAW issued from nuclear power plants contains the principal radionuclides⁶⁰Co,¹³⁴Cs and¹³⁷Cs, therefore, a sorption study of these radionuclides was carried out. pH of liquid RAW was 12.5–13.7 and salt content ca. 200 g·dm^–3. Results of sorption are given by distribution coefficients. The best results for cesium in those pH region and salt content had mordenite tuff D_Cs=100 dm³·kg^–1 and the worst results had fly ash D_Cs=4.1 dm³·kg^–1. The best results for cobalt in those solutions had tobermorite D_Co=38 dm³·kg^–1 and the worst results had fly ash D_Co=6.9 dm³·kg^–1.     

Sorption properties of natural clinoptilolite modified by Fe-containing solutions

Sorption properties of clinoptilolite tuff modified by Fe-containing solutions were studied. The absence of sorption of monocharged anions at any pH of the solution and a high sorption capacity (up to 2.0 to 2.5 mg-eq g^–1) for phosphate ions at pH 10 to 11.5 were shown. Desorption of phosphates by solutions of salts and mineral acids was studied.     

Solid phase extraction�Cinductively coupled plasma spectrometry for adsorption of Co(II) and Ni(II) from radioactive wastewaters by natural and modified zeolites

Natural and modified clinoptilolite as low-cost adsorbents have been used for adsorption of Co(II) and Ni(II) from nuclear wastewaters both in batch and continuous experiments. Zeolite X was also synthesized and its ability towards the selected cations was examined. Kinetic and thermodynamic behaviors for the process were investigated and adsorption equilibrium was interpreted in term of Langmuir and Freundlich equations. The effect of various parameters including the initial concentration, temperature, ionic strength and pH of solution were examined to achieve the optimized conditions. The clinoptilolite was shown good sorption potential for Co(II) and Ni(II) ions at pH values 4?C6. Based on desorption studies, nearly 74 and 85% of adsorbed Co(II) and Ni(II) were removed from clinoptilolite by HCl. The Na⁺ and NH₄ ⁺ forms of clinoptilolite were the best modified forms for the removal of investigated cations. It is concluded that the selectivity of clinoptilolite is higher for Co(II) than Ni(II). The synthesized zeolite showed more ability to remove cobalt and nickel ions from aqueous solution than the natural clinoptilolite. The microwave irradiation was found to be more rapid and effective for ion exchange compared to conventional ion exchange process.     

The effect of the synthesis method on the parameters of pore structure and selectivity of ferrocyanide sorbents based on natural minerals

Ferrocyanide sorbents were obtained via thin-layer and surface modification of natural clinoptilolite and marl. The effect of modification method on surface characteristics of these sorbents and their selectivity for cesium was studied. It was shown that the modification resulted in an increase of selectivity of modified ferrocyanide sorbents to cesium as compared with the natural clinoptilolite in presence of Na⁺, as well as in an increase of cesium distribution coefficients in presence of K⁺. The nickel–potassium ferrocyanide based on the clinoptilolite showed the highest selectivity for cesium at sodium concentrations of 10^?4—2 mol L^?1: cesium distribution coefficient was lg K _d = 4.5 ± 0.4 L kg^?1 and cesium/sodium separation factor was α(Cs/Na) = 250. In the presence of NH₄ ⁺, all modified sorbents showed approximately equal selectivity for ¹³⁷Cs. Probable applications of the sorbents were suggested.     

Sorption of lanthanum ions by natural clinoptilolite tuff

The equilibrium and kinetics of sorption of lanthanum ions on natural clinoptilolite tuff are studied. It is demonstrated that sorption of lanthanum ions from diluted solutions occurs in micropores of clinoptilolite, and from concentrated solutions in the mesoporous structure of tuff. The main capacity of zeolite tuff is found in the secondary porous structure. The sorption of lanthanum ions is limited by diffusion in tuff grains. Lanthanum ions are regularly distributed in the tuff phase and interact with the Brønsted centers of large clinoptilolite cavities.     

NQR study of chalcogenide glasses Ge-As-Se

A three‐component Ge‐As‐Se system is studied by the nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) method on ⁷⁵As nuclei and by the nutation NQR spectroscopy. The NQR ⁷⁵As spectra of the glasses Ge_0.021As_0.375Se_0.604, Ge_0.043As_0.348Se_0.609 and Ge_0.068As_0.318Se_0.614reveal broad lines with two peaks assigned to the main structural unit of As₂Se₃. With increasing average coordination number (r?), the spectrum signals are shifted towards higher frequencies. At r? > 2.54, the spectrum becomes complex, which is a consequence of formation of more complex molecular structures in the glasses of high content of germanium. At fixed frequencies the asymmetry parameter η of the samples studied is determined. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Use of Natural Zeolites for Radioactive Waste Treatment: Studies on Leaching from Zeolite/Cement Composites

Samples of the natural zeolites chabazite, clinoptilolite and a clinoptilolite-rich tuff, were loaded with the isotope ¹³⁷Cs. Composites of these labeled materials were made with cement and blast furnace slag. Standard leaching experiments were carried out with synthetic sea, ground and "pond" waters, as well as distilled water. Rates of leaching were calculated and compared to similar systems.     

Structural Characterization of Mn2+—ß″—Al2O3(Mn0.77Al10.46Mg0.54O17)

The structure of completely exchanged Mn²⁺—ß″—Al₂O₃(Mn_0.77Al_10.46Mg_0.54O₁₇) crystals has been investigated by single—crystal X—ray diffraction methods at room temperature (trigonal, R3¯, Z = 3, a = 560.65(7), c = 3329.3(9) pm). The manganese ions (Mn²⁺) are found to occupy Beevers‐Ross (56 %) and mid—oxygen positions (44 %) in nearly the same amounts. The crystal composition was confirmed by electron probe microanalyses on various crystals.     

The Study of Natural Clinoptilolite Acid Treatment Using EPR,IR and X-RAY Difraction Methods

Abstract

The paper deals with the results of studies concerning the effect of acid treatment, with l-4N HCl solutions, on natural zeolitic tuff from M[icaron]rid deposite (Romania) and on their structure and adsorption properties. The effect of thermal treatment on clinoptilolite acid resistance is also studied.

EPR, IR and X-ray diffractometric analyses of samples enable the location of iron in the natural clinoptilolite and permit the determination of sample crystallinity during the acid treatment. Under certain conditions (50[ddot]C temperature) of acid treatment evidence for the formation of pseudocrystalline clusters is obtained.     

Influence of acid treatment on structure of clinoptilolite tuff and its adsorption of methane

This study presents the results of the methane adsorption properties of clinoptilolite tuff from Bigadic, Turkey and that of acid treated forms at 273 and 293 K up to 100 kPa using volumetric apparatus. In order to assess changes in structural and gas adsorption properties of clinoptilolite, zeolite sample was treated with acid solutions of varying concentrations (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 M) at 70 °C during 3 h. Structural and thermal characterization of natural and acid treated clinoptilolite samples were carried out using a combination of techniques such as X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, thermogravimetric, differential thermal analysis and nitrogen adsorption methods. At both temperatures, uptake of methane (CH₄) increased in the following order: CLN < CLN-H2 < CLN-H1 < CLN-H05 < CLN-H01. CH₄ adsorption capacities of the original and acid treated clinoptilolites were found in the range of 0.476–0.910 mmol/g and 0.398–0.691 mmol/g at 273 and 293 K, respectively.     

Preconcentration and atomic spectrometric determination of rare earth elements (REEs) in natural water samples by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

The usage of a variety of sorbents has been shown as promising matrix removal/preconcentration strategies for the determination of rare earth elements (REEs) in various natural water samples by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The sorption efficiency of various zeolites (clinoptilolite, mordenite, zeolite Y, zeolite Beta), ion-exchangers (Amberlite CG-120, Amberlite IR-120, Rexyn 101, Dowex 50W X18) and chelating resins (Muromac, Chelex 100, Amberlite IRC-718) towards REEs was investigated in terms of solution pH, shaking time and sorbent amount. The results have shown that most of the materials can take up REEs at a wide pH range. The experiments were continued with clinoptilolite, zeolite Y and Chelex 100 and it was demonstrated that all three materials displayed very fast kinetics for REE sorption (higher than 96% in 1 min). Desorption from the sorbents was realized with 2.0 M HNO₃ for clinoptilolite and 0.1 M HNO₃ for zeolite Y and Chelex 100. Only the lower concentration range (0.01-2.0 mg l⁻¹) of matrix-matched standards were used in quantitation although the calibration graphs were linear at least up to 10.0 mg l⁻¹ for all REEs studied. The limit of detection (3 s) without preconcentration was 0.1, 1.0, and 0.2 μg l⁻¹ for Eu, La, and Yb, respectively. The validity of the method with the selected sorbents was checked through spike recovery experiments.