Removal of lead and zinc ions from aqueous solution using Amasya zeolites from Turkey

This paper deals with the removal of Pb2+ and Zn2+ ions from aqueous solutions using zeolitic minerals containing 45 wt.% clinoptilolite and 35 wt.% mordenite. The effects of particle size, zeolite/solution ratio, stirring time, and metal ion concentration on Pb2+ and Zn2+ removal were examined. The study showed that at at low metal concentrations the zeolite samples exhibited optimum efficiency at metal concentration around 22 mg/l for both Pb2+ and Zn2+, and Pb2+ ions were much more preferred by zeolites. More than 98% of the removal was achieved in the first five minutes for Pb2+, whereas the Zn2+ removal efficiency was around 90% for the same time. Pb2+ and Zn2+ adsorption capacities related to Langmuir isotherms were found to be 34.48 and 19.49 mg/g, respectively. In summary, it can be concluded that metal ions such as Pb2+ and Zn2+ can be removed with approximately 100% efficiency from aqueous solutions and wastewater containing similar ions using Amasya zeolites.