Cr (VI) adsorption from aqueous solution using a surfactant-modified Iranian zeolite: characterization, optimization, and kinetic approach

The impact of various operating parameters, including pH (2-12), concentrations of modified zeolite (0.1-1.25g/L), initial concentration of Cr (VI) (0.1-1.5mg/L), and contact time (5-120min), was investigated on the removal of Cr (VI) from water through different experimental runs in the batch system. The results showed that modified zeolite had best performance for the removal of Cr (VI) at the pH 7. The time required for the removal of 90.95% of the Cr (VI) from a 1mg/L solution was about 80min using modified zeolite. The equilibrium assessment illustrated that the Langmuir model is the best fit for the experimental data, which attains a maximum adsorption capacity of 4.4mg/g. Pseudo-second-order kinetic model was found to adequately describe the adsorption process. In the final part of the study, the efficacy of modified natural zeolite was examined to simultaneously removal of Cr (VI) and As (V) from aqueous solution. In summary, modified natural zeolite is an efficient in performance, simple to operate, and economical process and thereby affordable technology for the removal of Cr (VI) from the contaminated water source.