Removal of Some Heavy Metals from Industrial Wastewater by Natural Zeolites and Clay

Abstract

Three samples of natural Zeolites and one sample of black clay were used in this research. Samples were collected from Wadkawly in Gadarif state, Turkey, Bayouda desert in River Nile state, and Red Sea state respectively .These samples were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD)were showed that samples to be composed of Thomsonite, Clinoptilolite, Scolecite, and Feldspar respectively. Four samples were characterized by X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) to determine element oxides of samples. The samples were treated with HCl (0.1 M) for 5 hours then treated with NaCl (1.0M) for 24hours to ensure Na. Zeolite as cation exchanger to remove six heavy metal ions (Lead, Cadmium ,Nickel,Zinc,Iron,and Chromium) from four industrial wastewater collected from Tannery, Paints Factory, Petroleum Field, and Electrical Heating Regeneration Station. The physicochemical properties analyzed for pH, Conductivity, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), and Total Hardness (TH). Removal of heavy metal ions was achieved by Scolecite .Sample of Scolecite was characterized by Infrared (IR) before and after processing, and then tested by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) before treatment. Scolecite removing efficiency of 63.4% for six heavy metal ions.