Zeolite Composite Materials from Fly Ash: An Assessment of Physicochemical and Adsorption Properties

Abstract

Waste fly ash, with both low (with the addition of vermiculite) and high contents of unburned coal, were subjected to hydrothermal syntheses aiming to obtain zeolite composite materials—zeolite + vermiculite (NaX–Ver) and zeolite + unburned carbon (NaX–C). The composites were compared with parent zeolite obtained from waste fly ash with a low content of unburned carbon (NaX–FA). In this study, the physicochemical characteristics of the obtained materials were evaluated. The potential application of the investigated zeolites for the adsorption of ammonium ions from aqueous solutions was determined. Composite NaX–Ver and parent zeolite NaX–FA were characterized by comparable adsorption capacities toward ammonium ions of 38.46 and 40.00 mg (NH4+) g−1, respectively. The nearly 2-fold lower adsorption capacity of composite NaX–C (21.05 mg (NH4+) g−1) was probably a result of the lower availability of ion exchange sites within the material. Adsorbents were also regenerated using 1 M NaCl solution at a pH of 10 and subjected to 3 cycles of adsorption–desorption experiments, which proved only a small reduction in adsorption properties. This study follows the current trend of waste utilization (fly ash) and the removal of pollutants from aqueous solutions with respect to their reuse, which remains in line with the goals of the circular economy.