Sorption of Cd(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) on natural, sodium-, and acid-modified clinoptilolite-rich tuff

Sorption of Cd2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+ ions on natural (ZPCli), sodium modified (ZPCliNa) and acid modified (ZPCliH) zeolites have been investigated in function of the contact time, pH, and metal concentration by the batch technique. The characterization of ZPCli, ZPCliNa, and ZPCliH materials was performed using X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy techniques. The surface area (BET) and the pHpzc were also determined. The pH in the point of the zero charge of ZPCli, ZPCliNa, and ZPCliH zeolites was 8.25, 8.00, and 2.05, respectively. The kinetic sorption data for ZPCli, ZPCliNa and ZPCliH were well fitted to the pseudo-second order model (R2 > 0.99). The linear model described the Cd, Ni and Zn sorption isotherms for ZPCliH, while for ZPCliNa and ZPCliH it was the Freundlich model. The unmodified and modified zeolitic materials showed the highest sorption capacity for Cd2+, lower for Zn2+ and Ni2+