Treatment of Natural Mordenite with Alkali and the Ammonium Exchange Capacity of the Modified Zeolite

Abstract

The natural mordenite was treated hydrothermally with NaOH solutions, either with or without fusion with NaOH powder as pretreatment. Zeolite Na-P and analcime were identified as the reacted products, depending on the reaction conditions. The zeolites were identified by X-raydiffraction, and their cation exchange capacity (CEC) was determined. Zeolite Na-P has higher CEC (338 meq/100g) contrasted with the mordenite (181 meq/100g). Further more, the uptakes of NH4+ onto the zeolites have also been investigated. The Na-P has faster exchange rate, higher exchange amounts and better regeneration ability. The ammonium removal efficiency for the Na-P is above 90% at the ammonium initial concentrations less than 150 mg NH4+/g. It seemed that Na-P was fit for the further treatment of waters polluted with ammonium.