Advances in the Adsorption Capacity, Rupture Time and Saturation Curve of Natural Zeolites

Abstract

Reviewing the bibliography, it is found that the amount of heavy metals that natural zeolites are capable of adsorbing under normal conditions is 30%, +/- 10, 20, with respect to the weight of the zeolite used as an adsorbent material in the best cases, highlighting the family of clipnoptilolite, it has been proven that with physical/chemical modifications, as well as, in non-normal conditions of pressure and temperature, superior adsorption results can be achieved. The present study analyzes the capacity of a certain family of natural zeolites that, by presenting a different chemical configuration, that is, instead of having 1,2,3 interchangeable bases such as Ca, K, Mg, has a compound such as (O Mg) and therefore a reorganized unit cell with the capacity to adsorb heavy metals up to 80% with respect to the total weight that is used as adsorbent material, this would be a new parameter to be considered in the adsorption of heavy metals by natural zeolites. According to the scientific literature, it is precisely the amount of exchangeable bases, diameter, and the weight and size of the zeolite pore that largely determines the adsorption of heavy metals.