Granular Natural Zeolites: Cost-Effective Adsorbents for the Removal of Ammonium from Drinking Water

Increasing food demand has resulted in an ever increasing for nitrogen fertilizers. Ammonium is the main constituent of these fertilizers and a threat to aquatic environments around world. With focus on treatment drinking water, scope this study was investigate influence key parameters suitability granular natural zeolites as adsorbents ammonium. Sorption experiments were performed artificial matrices by varying grain size, contact time, ammonium concentration, pH, content competing ions, regeneration solutions used. Additionally, point zero charge (pzc) investigated. initial concentration 10 mgN/L, size shown have no significant effect sorption efficiency (97–98%). The experimental data obtained best described Langmuir adsorption model (R2 = 0.99). Minor effects observed at different pH values presence anions. In addition, pHPZC determined be between 6.24 6.47. Potassium ions better than sodium previously loaded zeolites, potassium also competitor sorption. use tap, bank filtrate, river, groundwater decreased capacity up 8%. Based our results, are promising cost-effective water treatment, especially threshold developing countries.