Using the sorption properties of diatomite from the Aktobe deposit in improving the quality of drinking water in Western Kazakhstan

Abstract

The paper describes the results of monitoring studies of the quality of tap water in the city of Uralsk. A solution was found to use natural reserves of the mineral diatomite in the purification of drinking water. The natural sorbent diatomite was modified with hydrochloric acid before testing. Natural and modified diatomite samples were studied using X-ray fluorescence analysis and electron microscopy. In acid-activated diatomite, the specific surface area and porosity increase by 2.5 times. Xray fluorescence analysis of the elemental composition showed an increase in the silicon content in the sorbent. Organoleptic and physicochemical properties were studied in the original and diatomite-treated water: turbidity, taste, smell, color, hardness, permanganate oxidation, pH, iron and copper ions. The efficiency of sorption with respect to heavy metals was tested using the model toxicant copper sulfate. Determinations of copper and iron ions were carried out using the atomic spectrometry method. Hardness, permanganate oxidation, pH and organoleptic parameters were determined by standard methods. Treatment of water with natural and modified diatomite made it possible to significantly reduce water pollution according to the studied parameters. Filtering water with a modified diatomite sorbent allows you not only to purify water from unwanted impurities, but also to adjust its salt composition due to the intake of silicon. Based on the results of the work, we can conclude that, compared to natural, modified diatomite has higher adsorption properties in relation to copper and iron cations, increases pH, and also contributes to more effective water purification from unwanted impurities.