Synthesis Of Zeolite Granules From NaCl Activated- Nano Zeolite Ore To Remove Calcium Ions From Groundwater

Abstract

Abstract Conventional water softening is often basis on the ion exchange process, utilizing a plastic polymeric material in the form of small beads called resins, or using geopolymers such as zeolites. The scope of this research is to minimize water hardness especially calcium hardness via an easy, environmental, and affordable method. A natural material Syrian zeolite ore was utilized in this work and improved by grinding to particle size ranges from 100 to 200 nm and treated with 1M NaCl solution. Both the natural zeolite ore and nano-activated zeolite were characterized chemically and structurally by FTIR, EDS, and FESEM techniques which revealed that Nano-activated zeolite was successfully synthesized. The obtained zeolite powder was formed into spherical millimeter-sized granules using a natural binder, bentonite clay (Aleppo Bellone), at a ratio of 1:1. The swelling index of the granules was measured and it was about 19%. The granules were tested in a gravity filtration process at a slow flow rate of 0.5 mL.min− 1. g− 1 using natural groundwater. The results showed that calcium ions were removed effectively from the groundwater, with a removal percentage of around 47.36%.