Adsorption of Ammonium Ions and Phosphates on Natural and Modified Clinoptilolite: Isotherm and Breakthrough Curve Measurements

Abstract

The research focuses on ammonia and phosphate removal from wastewater by using a novel metal and microwave-treated clinoptilolite. For increasing adsorption capacity, the samples were calcinated or microwave irradiated in the solutions of Fe(III), Cu (II), or Ca(II) chlorides. BET-specific surface area measurement revealed that the calcination led to a decrease from 18.254 to 11.658 m2/g. The adsorption results were fitted to theoretical models. The PO43− adsorption in all samples as well as NH4+ adsorption in natural and Fe- and Ca-modified samples is best described using the Langmuir–Freundlich model, but in calcinated and Cu-modified clinoptilolite the NH4+ sorption is better characterized by the Freundlich model. The PO43− adsorption in natural and all modified samples is best described using the Langmuir–Freundlich model. Fe-modified and calcinated clinoptilolite showed the highest NH4+ adsorption capacity of 4.375 and 2.879 mg/g. Ca-modified samples demonstrated the lowest adsorption capacity of 0.875 mg NH4+/g. The metal-modified samples exhibit a significantly higher phosphate sorption capacity (from 800.62 for Cu-sample to 813.14 mg/g for the Fe-modified sample) than natural (280.86 mg/g) or calcinated samples (713.568 mg/g). Experimental studies in dynamic conditions revealed high NH4+ and sufficient PO43− ions captured on modified clinoptilolite. This study provides a feasible approach for the synchronous removal of the main eutrophication agents for implementation in additional (tertiary) wastewater treatment facilities.