Application of a Novel Surfactant-Modified Natural Nano-Zeolite for Removal of Heavy Metals from Drinking Water

This work, the application of a surfactant-modified natural nano-clinoptilolite for the removal of several two valances heavy metal cations (i.e., Cu2+, Pb2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, Fe2+ and Zn2+) from aqueous media was discussed. Triton X-100 was used as modifier and to achieve maximum efficiency of adsorption; variables such as the concentration of surfactant, contact time, the working temperature and pH of sample solution were optimized. The results revealed that, the maximum adsorption was achieved at a solution with the pH of 6, containing 2 mL of triton X-100 and 2 g/L of clinoptilolite at 45 °C. The obtained selectivity series for the adsorption of cations were Pb2+>Cu2+>Cd2+>Ni2+ >Zn2+>Fe2+. The maximum adsorption capacity of the modified zeolite for Pb2+, Cu2+, Cd2+, Ni2+, Zn2+ and Fe2+ was 91.34, 85.71, 78.27, 76.18, 67.41 and 63.45 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption data were acceptably fitted to the both Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms.