A Novel Geopolymer Foam Based On ZSM-5 Zeolite Fabricated Using Templating Emulsion/Chemical Foaming Method and Its Application in Batch and Continuous Dye Removal Systems

Geopolymers as sustainable and environmentally friendly “green materials”, can be synthesized by utilizing waste material and by-products. A porous geopolymer foam adsorbent based on ZSM-5 zeolite was prepared using templating emulsion/chemical foaming method in different conditions and used for dye removal in batch and continuous systems. The parameters affecting the dye adsorption including temperature, concentration, and pH, kinetics, isotherm, and thermodynamics of the process were investigated. The results of the geopolymer foam synthesis showed that thermal pretreatment of the zeolite has a positive effect on the strength and adsorption capacity. Moreover, the increase in sodium silicate more than the stoichiometric reduces the strength and adsorption capacity. The findings obtained from the batch adsorption process showed that the adsorption kinetics of the pseudo-second-order model and the adsorption isotherm of the Temkin model is adjusted with the experimental data. Thermodynamic results indicated that the process of dye adsorption with geopolymer foam is exothermic. The results from continuous experiments indicated more compatibility of the adsorption process with the models of Thomas and Bohart-Adams. The maximum adsorption capacity of methylene blue in batch and continuous processes was 9.82 and 8.17 mg/g. The adsorbent reduction was performed successfully by chemical and thermal processes.