UPTAKE OF LEAD AND CADMIUM BY CLINOPTILOLITE

The ion exchange systems of lead and cadmium, using the zeolite cinlinoptilolite, were examined. The metal uptake is increased with increasing temperature. At low temperatures the exchange of lead is mainly with the sodium ions but at higher temperatures potassium present in the zeolite lattice can be replaced, increasing the metal uptake. In the case of cadmium, the exchange occurs only with sodium ions, irrespective of the temperature of the solution. The zeolite particle size influences significantly the metal uptake. An increase is observed with decreasing particLe size. From the experimental results the diffusion coefficients and activation energies of the ion exchange systems are calculated.