Zinc removal from aqueous solutions by Turkish clinoptilolite

Abstract

In this study, the removal of zinc ions from aqueous solution using natural Turkish zeolite, clinoptilolite, under different experimental conditions was investigated. Zeolite was used as a low cost adsorbent to remove zinc ions from water changing initial zinc concentration, pH and zeolite particle size. Langmiur and Freundlich isotherm models were tested to describe the adsorption data of Bigadic clinoptilolite about zinc ion uptake capacity. The results showed that the pretreatment with NaCl increased removal efficiency about 50 %. There were no significant effect changing pH's and zeolite particle sizes. According to experimental data the Langmuir isotherm model has been fitted better than Freundlich.