Characterization and Application of Bayah Natural Zeolites for Ammonium Capture: Isotherm and Kinetic

Abstract

The aim of this study is to characterize Bayah natural zeolites and tested for ammonium capture. Characterization of Bayah natural zeolites were performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and nitrogen physisorption. The natural zeolites were identified as mordenite and clinoptilolite. Non-zeolitic phase appeared on the XRD pattern was quartz. The morphology of clinoptilolite and mordenite were observed as platy and needle shape in the SEM images, respectively. Major cations were K+ and Ca2+ which were determined by energy dispersive X-ray. Nitrogen isotherm physisorption suggested that the natural zeolites was typical of type IV isotherm. Pore size distribution were determined using Barrett, Joyner, and Halenda model with mesopore size 3-5 nm. Ammonium exchange on Bayah natural zeolites were conducted in a batch experiment by varying the particle sizes, time and mass loading. Non-linear least squared method was applied to fit the experimental data with various kinetic and isotherm models. The kinetic data was well fitted with the Elovich equation with error 1.6 x 10-4. Isotherm adsorption of ammonium followed Langmuir-Vageler with error 4 x 10-2.