Adsorption of Ammonia from Aqueous Solution Using Zeolite-Attapulgite Nano-Pore Structure Ceramisite
Zeolite-attapulgite nano-pore structure ceramisite was prepared using natural zeolite and attapulgite through compounding, granulation and calcination.After elementary characterization of this ceramisite by mercury porosimeter, batch tests were carried out to examine its removal mechanism of ammonia. The influences of pH, contact time, initial ammonia concentration and temperature on the ammonia removal were investigated. The optimum pH for adsorption of ammonia was found to be less than 7. The adsorption process followed pseudo-second order rate model. Adsorption isotherm studies showed that Freundlich model fitted the experimental data. The sorption of ammonia increased with the rise of temperature because adsorption process was endothermic. The zeolite-attapulgite composite nano- pore structure ceramisite shows very good promise for practical applicability of ammonia removal from aqueous solution.