Application of apophyllite and thomsonite natural zeolite as modified adsorbents for the removal of zinc from acid mine drainage

Ravindra W Gaikwad; Amol Vijay Sonawane; Vikas S Hakke; Shirish H Sonawane; Mahendra S Gaikwad; Sandeep Kumar Lakhera; Venu Babu G; A R Warade; Ajay B Urgunde; Vilas S Sapkal

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.141095

Application of apophyllite and thomsonite natural zeolite as modified adsorbents for the removal of zinc from acid mine drainage

Chemosphere. 2024 Feb:350:141095. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.141095. Epub 2024 Jan 3.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering, Jawaharlal Nehru Engineering College, MGM University, Aurangabad, MS, 431003, India. Electronic address: rwgaikwad1@gmail.com.
² Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Warangal, Telangana State, 506004, India. Electronic address: sonawaneamol38@gmail.com.
³ Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Warangal, Telangana State, 506004, India. Electronic address: hakke.vikas@gmail.com.
⁴ Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Warangal, Telangana State, 506004, India. Electronic address: shirish@nitw.ac.in.
⁵ Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Raipur, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, 492010, India.
⁶ Department of Physics and Nanotechnology, College of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science & Technology (SRMIST), Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu District, 603203, Tamil Nadu, India. Electronic address: space1lakhera@gmail.com.
⁷ Shilpa Pharma Life Sciences Ltd, Deosugur, Dist Raicur, India.
⁸ Department of Chemical Engineering, Pravara Rural Engineering College, Loni, MS, 413736, India. Electronic address: arwarade@gmail.com.
⁹ Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, 34203, India. Electronic address: urgunde.1@iitj.ac.in.
¹⁰ Department of Chemical Engineering, Jawaharlal Nehru Engineering College, MGM University, Aurangabad, MS, 431003, India. Electronic address: vssapkal@gmail.com.

PMID: 38182086
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.141095

Abstract

Materials composed of natural zeolite have the potential to serve as highly effective adsorbents in the treatment of wastewater. The present study explores zeolite resin-based Apophyllite and Thomsonite as adsorbents for removing Zinc from acid mine drainage solution. The characteristics of the natural zeolites (Apophyllites and Thomsonite) are investigated using X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and Field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis. The removal of Zinc from AMD is explored, and the influence of metal ion concentration, resin dose, and pH is investigated using a batch exchange resin-based experimental method. Maximum zinc removal occurs in the pH range of 2-6 with an initial zinc content of 50-250 mg/L and a resin dosage of 25-700 mg/L, indicating that the adsorption process is pH-dependent. Various isotherm models, including those proposed by Freundlich and Langmuir as well as Redlich-Peterson, Dubinin, and Temkin, are used to verify the results of the experimental research. All these isotherm models' constants are determined. Both resins showed different sorption efficiencies at different operating conditions. However, highest Zn removal efficiency of 86.2% was observed for the Thomsonite zeolite resin whereas Apophyllite zeolite resin showed maximum Zn uptake of 81.6%. Thus, Thomsonite was found to be an effective sorbent.

Keywords: Acid mine drainage; Ion exchange; Natural zeolite; Thomsonite; Zinc (II).

MeSH terms

Adsorption
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Kinetics
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / chemistry
Zeolites* / chemistry
Zinc / chemistry

Substances

Zinc
Zeolites
Water Pollutants, Chemical