LOCAL ZEOLITE AS ION-EXCHANGE MEDIUM FOR GROUND WATER PURIFICATION

Abstract

Zeolite samples were collected from Wadkawly in Gadarif region. These samples were characterized with respect to both physical and chemical properties. X-ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD) showed these samples to be composed of Thomsonite zeolite, exclusively. The samples were treated with strong brine solution to ensure that Na-zeolite is generated and used as the stationary ion exchange phase. Solutions containing 100ppm of the ions (Pb2+ or Fe3+ or Ni2+) were artificially prepared, then processed with the zeolite. Excellent extraction was achieved, with final residual concentration of 0.02 ppb, 3.0 ppb and 1.38 ppm for (Pb2+, Fe3+ and Ni2+) respectively. This gives extraction efficiency of ~ 100 %, 99.9 %, and 98.6 %, for Pb2+ , Fe3+ and Ni2+, respectively. The relative efficiency is, therefore : Pb2+ > Fe3+ > Ni2+.