Fundamental studies on zeolite–adsorbate interactions: designing a better aluminosilicate adsorbent for pollutants’ removal

• Published in: Environmental earth sciences 2022, Vol.81 (1), Article 17
• Main Authors: de Pietre, Mendelssolm Kister, Freitas, Jair C. C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorbates; Adsorbents; Adsorption; Aluminosilicates; Aluminum silicates; Anions; Biogeosciences; Cations; Contamination; Design modifications; Dyes; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Environmental cleanup; Environmental Science and Engineering; Geochemistry; Geology; Heavy metals; Hydrology/Water Resources; Industrial areas; Metal ions; Metals; Organic chemistry; Original Article; Pesticides; Pollutants; Removal; Terrestrial Pollution; Water pollution; Zeolites
• ISSN: 1866-6280; 1866-6299
• DOI: 10.1007/s12665-021-10130-w

Environmental contamination by metal ions and water-soluble organic pollutants has become a major concern worldwide, since many industrial activities intensify the use and discharge of these substances; in fact, a few cost-effective solutions to this important issue are available to these days. In this context, the use of zeolite-based materials (natural, synthetic, or chemically modified nanostructured aluminosilicates) as adsorbents might be an interesting alternative for environmental applications, due to their low cost, practical, and simple use and the possibility of tailoring their structures for removal of different pollutants, whether they are inorganic or organic molecules, cationic or anionic ions, and small or large molecules. Thus, this work aims to contribute to a more rational approach to the development of better adsorbents for environmental remediation by reviewing recent reports in the literature describing the design of modified aluminosilicates, discussing the main advantages and disadvantages of each synthesis method and encompassing different types of pollutants such as heavy metals, dyes, pesticides, and other organic pollutants.