Preparation of Clinoptilolite Nanostructure from this Zeoliteore and its Application in Copper Ions Removal from Water

In this work, natural clinoptilolite nanaostructures were prepared from natural zeolite and used to remove Cu2 cation from polluted water. In the first section the natural clinoptilolite particles were converted to nanostructures using a ball mill. The natural clinoptilolite and prepared nanostructures samples were characterized by SEM, XRD, and BET. The SEM images approved the development of clinoptilolite nanostructures. The result obtained from BET analysis indicated the increase pore volume of clinoptilolite nanostructures related to the clinoptilolite microparticles. In the second part of this work, the nanostructures were used as adsorbent for removal of Cu2 cation from polluted water. Effect of initial pH of solution, adsorbent dosage and contact time on the Cu2 removal efficiency was investigated, where the 6, 1.2 g/L and 6 were determined as optimum conditions, respectively. Isotherm and kinetics of the adsorption process were analyzed. The equilibrium data were fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model.