Magnetic zeolites: a new adsorbent for removal of metallic contaminants from water

• Published in: Water research (Oxford) 2004-10, Vol.38 (17), p.3699-3704
• Main Authors: Oliveira, Luiz C.A., Petkowicz, Diego I., Smaniotto, Alessandra, Pergher, Sibele B.C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorbents; Adsorption; Applied sciences; Chemistry; Chromium - isolation & purification; Copper - isolation & purification; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Industrial wastewaters; Magnetic adsorbents; Magnetic zeolites; Magnetics; Metallic contaminants; Pollution; Surface physical chemistry; Wastewaters; Water Pollutants - isolation & purification; Water Purification - methods; Water treatment and pollution; Zeolite; Zeolites - chemistry; Zinc - isolation & purification
• ISSN: 0043-1354; 1879-2448
• DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2004.06.008

In this work the adsorption features of NaY zeolite with the magnetic properties of iron oxides have been combined in a composite to produce a magnetic adsorbent. These magnetic composites can be used as an adsorbent for metallic contaminants in water and subsequently removed from the medium by a simple magnetic process. The zeolites:iron oxide magnetic composites, were prepared by using NaY with weight ratio of 3:1 and were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), magnetization measurements, chemical analyses, N2 adsorption isotherms and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Nitrogen adsorption isotherms showed that the surface area decreased from 505m2g−1 for the pure NaY to 353m2g−1 for the NaY:Fe oxide 3:1 composite. The adsorption isotherms of metal ions Cr3+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ from aqueous solution onto the composites also showed that the presence of iron oxide does not affect the adsorption capacity.