Abstract
The objective of this study was to synthesize zeolites through fusion of lignite fly ash and NaOH or KOH pellets at 600 °C and assess their removal efficiency in terms of decontamination of solutions containing Cu(II) ions. The removal efficiency of the produced zeolites was tested in batch kinetic experiments using different zeolites and Cu(II) ion concentrations. Experimental data revealed that zeolites synthesized with the use of NaOH exhibited higher removal efficiency compared with those synthesized with the use of KOH. Kinetic data showed that the pseudo-second-order equations described well the removal process. Copper removal was mainly accomplished through the concerted action of chemisorption and intraparticle diffusion. Analytical techniques involving XRF, XRD, FTIR, SEM/EDS and XPS were used for the characterization and morphology analysis of the produced zeolites. SEM/EDS confirmed the presence of copper on the zeolite surface. XPS spectra of Cu2p at 934.3 eV proved the presence of Cu(II) oxidation state, confirming the possible formation of CuO and/or Cu-Cl.
Highlights
The dependence of the society on coal-based energy is still high in most countries [1].Today, coal provides almost 30% of the world’s non-renewable primary energy, whereas this figure is anticipated to drop by only 3–4% within the few years
These results showed that the removal of Cu(II) ions for both ZFA1Na and ZFA1.5Na zeolites was complete and reached equilibrium within 20 min for the initial Cu(II) ion concentrations 45 and was complete and reached equilibrium within 20 min for the initial Cu(II) ion concentrations
Greek lignite fly ash was efficiently converted into zeolites through alkaline fusion with the use of
Summary
The dependence of the society on coal-based energy is still high in most countries [1].Today, coal provides almost 30% of the world’s non-renewable primary energy, whereas this figure is anticipated to drop by only 3–4% within the few years. The dependence of the society on coal-based energy is still high in most countries [1]. As a result of coal combustion in power plants, huge quantities of coal fly ash (FA) are generated causing immense management and environmental problems [2]. The generation of electricity in Greece mainly depends (~73%). The electricity generation power plants in Greece burn approximately 64 million tons of lignite and produce nearly 13 million tons of FA [3]. Fly ash mainly consists of aluminosilicates (Al2 O3 and SiO2 ), Fe2 O3 , and CaO and may exhibit toxicity and/or cause environmental and health impacts if not properly managed or disposed of in abandoned lignite quarries and other improper sites [4]. AAMs can be used as backfill in exhausted underground mines [7,8], as soil amendment [9], as catalysts in various environmental applications [10], in wastewater treatment [11], as well as for the stabilization of sludge(s) and other hazardous wastes [12]
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