The use of clinoptilolite and synthetic zeolites for removal of petroleum substances

Authors: 

Bandura L., Panek R., Franus W.

In the present paper the sorption of petroleum substances such as diesel fuels on zeolite beds was investigated. A natural occurring zeolite clinoptilolite, and mixtures of clinoptilolite and synthetic zeolites Na-P1 and Na-X type, in the ratio 3:1, were used in this study. Natural zeolite acquired from the mine tuffs in Sokyrnytsya (Ukraine). In order to obtain synthetic zeolites, F-class fly ash (Kozienice Power Plant, Poland) with sodium hydroxide was used and later it underwent the hydrothermal conversion. Two commonly used diesel fuels were chosen for this study; namely Verva On and Biodiesel. The zeolites were characterized with the use of X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and N2 adsorption/desorption isotherm. The results indicated that clinoptilolite could constitute a good sorbent for petroleum substances removal. Moreover, the addition of synthetic zeolites improved the sorption capacity of the zeolite beds. In this study, when 25% of synthetic zeolite was added to the clinoptilolite bed, the sorption capacity increased approximately two times.

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