Evaluation of Zeolitic Materials Synthetized from Coal Fly Ash as Potential Cd(II) Adsorbents from Aqueous Solutions

Abstract

The aim of this research paper is to present a simple and efficient method to prepare zeolite materials from thermal power plant fly ash which is one of the most important waste resulted from power plants. The method of preparation of zeolite materials consists of alkaline activation followed by calcination at different temperatures. The zeolite materials prepared were studied by FT-IR spectroscopy, specific surface determination, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and particle size composition. XRF data indicated that the zeolites synthesized are characterized by Si/Al ratio between 1.21 and 1.26, being mainly composed of Na-P1 zeolite. The optimum conditions of cadmium ions removal process by adsorption onto zeolite materials have been determined. It was concluded that increase of calcination temperature has as result increase of specific surface area and cosequently the increase of sorption capacity. An equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic study has been performed. The high value of correlation coefficient for the Langmuir isotherm reveals that the Cd(II) sorption onto zeolite materials occurs as a monolayer coverage of Cd(II) ions on homogenous zeolite surface. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model fits the experimental results of the Cd(II) sorption onto zeolite materials processes. As a results, the mechanism involved in Cd(II) sorption onto zeolite materials is based on chemical reactions. The thermodynamic results indicate that the Cd(II) adsorption process is more encouraging at higher temperatures.The results established that valuable NaP1 zeolite materials with high adsorption capacity can be prepared from thermal power plant fly ash through a simple method. The materials prepared can be utilized to remediate cadmium ions-bearing wastewater.