Modification of Georgian clinoptilolite to obtain adsorbents to purify water from arsenic and antimony ions

Author: nona janashvili
Keywords: clinoptilolite, modification, arsenic, antimony
Annotation:

Environmental pollution is one of the problems that has the greatest impact on human health. Pollution of natural objects (water, soil) poses a great threat to biodiversity and the integrity of the ecosystem, which ultimately has a negative impact on human health. Among the many hazardous wastes in the environment are Arsenic and Antimony, even small concentrations of which can cause toxic effects. Contamination of natural objects with these elements poses a significant ecological threat and requires appropriate measures. There are various methods of purification of polluted waters, the most notable of which are adsorption and ion exchange methods using Zeolite adsorbents. Widespread and studied natural Zeolites such as Clinoptilolite are extensively used as adsorbents for the absorption of toxic elements. The aim of our work was to study the sorption processes in the initial, decationed and cation-modified forms of Clinoptilolite of the Georgian ore deposit. Because Clinoptilolite, among other water purifiers, has a special place due to its unique adsorption and cation-converting properties. As a result of the research, it was found that during the modification, there is a partial decation and dealumination of it. The SiO2 / Al2O3 ratio increases accordingly. Which was confirmed by both chemical and X-ray analysis of the composition of the samples obtained. Both the study of diffractograms and the analysis of IR spectra also revealed that the structure of the Zeolite specimens underwent some changes after the decation of the sample. Preliminary experimental data have shown that modified forms of Clinoptilolite are more effective than the original, at the same time they are inexpensive and affordable adsorbents. Using this Zeolite it is possible to reduce the concentrations of Arsenic and Antimony and consequently their negative impact on the environment.