High Removal Efficiency of Diatomite-Based X Zeolite for Cu2+ and Zn2+

Diatomite-based X zeolite was obtained and its crystallinity, morphology, and interface properties were investigated by XRD, BET, SEM, EDS, and XRF. The obtained X zeolite possessed a unique meso-microporous structure and showed good ion exchange properties for Cu2+ and Zn2+. The pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir isotherm model can best describe the adsorption kinetics and isotherms of Cu2+ and Zn2+, respectively. The maximal adsorption capacities of X zeolite for Cu2+ and Zn2+ were 146 and 195 mg/g at 323 K, respectively. Meanwhile, the adsorption process for Cu2+ and Zn2+ were chemical adsorption and ion exchange, respectively. Furthermore, the adsorption data turned out to be an endothermic and spontaneous process. Compared with other reported materials, the adsorption capacity of X zeolite synthesized from diatomite was among the highest. Therefore, it could be a promising adsorbent for the disposal of wastewater that contains metal ions.

Simultaneous Removal of Pb2+ and Zn2+ Heavy Metals Using Fly Ash Na-X Zeolite and its Carbon Na-X(C) Composite

Pure zeolite (Na-X) and a zeolite–carbon composite (Na-X(C)) were investigated as adsorbents of heavy metals—Pb2+ and Zn2+ from an aqueous solution. These materials were synthesized from fly ash—a waste from conventional hard coal combustion. Both solids were characterized using XRD, SEM-EDS, nitrogen adsorption/desorption, particle size and elemental composition analyses. The adsorption study was performed at pH 5 in the systems containing one or two adsorbates simultaneously. The obtained results showed that the pure zeolite was characterized by a more developed surface area (728 m2/g) than its carbon composite (272 m2/g), and the mean pore diameters were equal to 1.73 and 2.56 nm, respectively. The pure Na-X zeolite showed better adsorption properties towards heavy metals than its Na-X(C) composite, and Zn2+ adsorbed amounts were significantly higher than the Pb2+ ones (the highest experimental adsorption levels were: for Zn2+—656 and 600 mg/g, and for Pb2+—575 and 314 mg/g, on the Na-X and Na-X(C) surfaces, respectively). The zinc ions are exchanged with the cations inside the zeolite materials structure more effectively than lead ions with a considerably larger size. In the mixed systems, the competition between both heavy metals for access to the active sites on the adsorbent surface leads to the noticeable reduction in their adsorbed amounts. Moreover, the hydrochloric acid was a better desorbing agent for both heavy metals, especially Pb2+ one (desorption reached 78%), than sodium base (maximal desorption 25%).

Synthesis and Characterization of Zeolite X from Boiler Ash and Aluminum Foil Waste

This study aims to determine the effect of the Si/Al molar ratio and the number of Na2EDTA additions on the purity and crystallinity levels of the synthesized zeolite X. zeolite X was synthesized by hydrothermal method at 70°C and 120°C for 3 and 6 hours, respectively. In the synthesis of zeolite X used boiler ash and aluminum foil waste. The results of characterization using Fourier Transform Infra Red (FT-IR) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) showed that the level of purity and crystallinity of the synthesized zeolite X was influenced by the variation of Si/Al molar rasio and amount of Na2EDTA addition. The zeolite with the best quality was obtained from the synthesis with a Si/Al molar ratio of 1.6 and the amount of Na2EDTA added as much as 3.0 g. The synthesized zeolite X has a purity level of 75% and a degree of crystallinity with a total intensity of 845.

Highly dispersed Pt nanoparticles in the Cs-modified X zeolite with enhancement for toluene side-chain alkylation with methanol

Modification of Cs/X with highly dispersed Pt NPs improved the activity and durability in the side-chain alkylation of toluene.