Investigation on the adsorption of cationic dyes and heavy metal ions on zeolite HY from aqueous solution

Abstract

Every living creature on the earth needs access to clean water. Water is being contaminated by humans in numerous ways. Heavy metals and textile dyes are two of the major contaminants in wastewater. Dyes and heavy metals are harmful to human health and have negative effects on the environment as well. Zeolites are excellent adsorbent materials for various types of pollutants including organic and inorganic such as dyes, heavy metals, ammonium ions, etc. In this study, we have presented the synthesis, characterizations, and application of zeolite HY for the extraction of cationic dyes and heavy metal ions. Zeolite Y was synthesized by hydrothermal approach and converted to its H-form. Different characterization techniques such as Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR), Field-Emissions Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were utilized for the characterization of zeolite HY. The synthesized material zeolite HY (ZHY) was then employed for the adsorption of two cationic dyes i.e., MB and CV, heavy metal ions i.e., cadmium (Cd+2) and chromium (Cr+6) and ammonium (NH4+) ions from its aqueous solution. The adsorption data showed 97.2 % removal of MB 49 % removal of CV, 0 % removal of both Cd+2 and Cr+6 heavy metal ions and 5 % removal of NH4+ ions.