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Use of drinking water sludge in the production process of zeolites

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Abstract

This study reports the synthesis of zeolites A, X, and P, cancrinite, and sodalite using sludge generated in a drinking water plant. Two experimental steps were carried out: (1) fusion and (2) hydrothermal treatment. Crystallization was achieved by means of a 23 experimental design with central point with the following factors: temperature, time, and solid/liquid ratio. The sludge presented Si and Al contents (SiO2/Al2O3 = 1.7) which allow the synthesis of zeolites with high cation exchange capacity. The content of organic matter was considerable (loss on ignition 26.1 %), but is eliminated in the fusion step at 550 °C. This process also permits the conversion of the initial aluminosilicates into zeolite precursors (sludge–NaOH mix of 1:0.785 g/g). Hydrothermal treatment then permits the crystallization of the aforementioned zeolites. These materials showed high cation exchange capacities as compared to other commercial and experimentally synthesized zeolites, and can be used in the removal of heavy metals such Cd2+, Pb2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, and ammonium present in water, providing an interesting new option in wastewater treatment and remediation of soils.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Omar Novelo for his assistance in the SEM analyses and Leticia García for her assistance in N2 adsorption–desorption analyses. F. Espejel Ayala acknowledges support from DGAPA in the form of his post-doctoral grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Coordinación de Ingeniería Ambiental, Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cd. Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510, Mexico, DF, Mexico

    F. Espejel-Ayala & R. M. Ramírez-Zamora

  2. Departamento de Materiales y Manufactura, DIMEI, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico, Mexico

    F. Espejel-Ayala & R. Schouwenaars

  3. Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico, Mexico

    A. Durán-Moreno

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  1. F. Espejel-Ayala
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  2. R. Schouwenaars
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  3. A. Durán-Moreno
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  4. R. M. Ramírez-Zamora
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Correspondence to R. M. Ramírez-Zamora.

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Espejel-Ayala, F., Schouwenaars, R., Durán-Moreno, A. et al. Use of drinking water sludge in the production process of zeolites. Res Chem Intermed 40, 2919–2928 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11164-013-1138-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11164-013-1138-8

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