A cost-effective, iron- and manganese-oxide-supported clinoptilolite-based rock was prepared. Based on its nanoporous structure, it worked as a nanoreactor, thereby providing enhanced functionalities. The mono- and bimetallic Fe- and Mn-oxide-supported clinoptilolite was thoroughly characterized with thermoanalytical FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and XPS spectroscopy. All the spectral procedures that were used confirmed the occurrence of a new MnO2 phase (predominantly birnessite), including mostly amorphous iron oxi(hydr)oxide (FeO(OH)) species on the surface of the above-synthesized adsorbents. The synthesized products validated a considerably higher adsorption capacity toward Pb(II) pollutants compared to the natural clinoptilolite. The following order of a(max) toward Pb(II) was found: MnOx-zeolite (202.1 mg/g) > FeO(OH)-MnOx-zeolite (101.3 mg/g) > FeO(OH)-zeolite (80 mg/g) > natural zeolite (54.9 mg/g). The adsorption equilibrium data were analyzed by the two-parameter empirical isotherm models Langmuir, Freundlich, and BET as well as the three-parameter Redlich-Peterson isotherm.
Keywords: Fe- and Mn-oxide-supported clinoptilolite; SEM; XPS; XRD; adsorption isotherms.