Low-cost zeolite-based sorbents prepared from industrial perlite by-product material for Zn2+ and Ni2+ removal from aqueous solutions: synthesis, properties and sorption efficiency
Marek Osacký,
Tomáš Binčík,
Barbora Hudcová,
Martina Vítková,
Helena Pálková,
Pavol Hudec,
Peter Bačík,
Adriana Czímerová
Affiliations
Marek Osacký
Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Economic Geology, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovak Republic; Corresponding author.
Tomáš Binčík
Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Economic Geology, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Barbora Hudcová
Department of Environmental Geosciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, 165 00, Prague, Czech Republic
Martina Vítková
Department of Environmental Geosciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, 165 00, Prague, Czech Republic
Helena Pálková
Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 36, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Pavol Hudec
Department of Organic Technology, Catalysis and Petroleum, Slovak University of Technology, Radlinského 9, 812 37, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Peter Bačík
Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Economic Geology, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovak Republic; Earth Science Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 840 05, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Adriana Czímerová
Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 36, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
The conversion of waste/by-product materials into efficient sorbents is at the forefront of innovative remediation techniques. In the present study, the relationships among the synthesis conditions, physicochemical properties of synthesized sorbents and Zn2+ and Ni2+ removal efficiencies were studied in detail. Zeolite X, zeolite P, phillipsite, analcime, sodalite and cancrinite were synthesized from industrial perlite by-product material. The zeolite content in the synthesized sorbents and zeolite framework topology (dimensions, numbers and spatial configuration of channels) were the key factors affecting the removal of Zn2+ and Ni2+ from aqueous solutions. Zeolite X-based sorbent exhibited the best sorption performance mainly due to the large zeolite channel dimensions, low Si/Al ratio, high cation exchange capacity and high specific surface area. Nevertheless, the efficiency and stability of this sorbent need to be tested under field conditions prior to its application for remediation technologies.
