Decationization and dealumination of clinoptilolite tuff and ammonium exchange on acid-modified tuff

Study of the Antibacterial Capacity of a Biomaterial of Zeolites Saturated with Copper Ions (Cu2+) and Supported with Copper Oxide (CuO) Nanoparticles

In this work, copper (II) ions were saturated and copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) were supported in natural zeolite from Chile; this was achieved by making the adsorbent material come into contact with a copper ion precursor solution and using mechanical agitation, respectively. The kinetic and physicochemical process of the adsorption of copper ions in the zeolite was studied, as well as the effect of the addition of CuO NPs on the antibacterial properties. The results showed that the saturation of copper (II) ions in the zeolite is an efficient process, obtaining a 27 g L^-1 concentration of copper ions in a time of 30 min. The TEM images showed that a good dispersion of the CuO NPs was obtained via mechanical stirring. The material effectively inhibited the growth of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria that have shown resistance to methicillin and carbapenem. Furthermore, the zeolite saturated with copper at the same concentration had a better bactericidal effect than the zeolite supported with CuO NPs. The results suggested that the ease of processing and low cost of copper (II) ion-saturated zeolitic material could potentially be used for dental biomedical applications, either directly or as a bactericidal additive for 3D printing filaments.

Uptake and release characteristics of serotonin hydrochloride by natural Cuban zeolite containing clinoptilolite and mordenite

Serotonin (5-HT) plays an important role in human physiology. An excess of this native regulator within the human gut can be partially controlled by orally consuming zeolite. Therefore, this study focuses on the kinetics of the uptake and release of serotonin hydrochloride (5-HT-hc) by natural Cuban zeolite containing clinoptilolite and mordenite at different pH levels using UV–Vis spectroscopy. 5-HT-hc is stable under the following investigated experimental conditions: incubation temperature of 36 °C; and at a pH of 5, 7, and 9. Independent of the zeolite framework, the 5-HT-hc is adsorbed without changing its molecular structure. The uptake and release of 5-HT-hc were not correlated to the textural properties of these aluminosilicates. The investigated zeolites adsorbed 5-HT-hc at about 14 mg per gram zeolite with no large differences observed between different samples. Release studies of 5-HT-hc-loaded zeolite revealed that the 5-HT-hc is strongly bound to the zeolite, and independent of the pH value and zeolite framework only up to 12.7% was released into the water.

Antibacterial activity of Zn-loaded Cuban zeolite against Helicobacter pylori in comparison to its Na-loaded and unmodified counterparts

Helicobacter pylori can be found in the stomach of about half of the humans, and a large population can be associated with serious diseases. To survive in the stomach H. pylori increases the pH locally by producing ammonia which binds to H⁺ becoming ammonium. This work investigated the effects on the in-vitro growth of H. pylori of a natural cation-exchanger mainly composed (≈70%) of clinoptilolite and mordenite. The zeolitized material from Cuba was evaluated in its original form (M), as well as in its Na- (M-Na) and Zn-exchanged (M-Zn) counterparts. In the preliminary agar cup diffusion test, H. pylori revealed susceptibility only to M-Zn, with a direct relationship between concentration and width of inhibition halo. Further experiments evidenced that bacterium replication increases when ammonium is supplied to the growth medium and decreases when zeolites subtract NH₄⁺ via ion exchange. Due to the multi-cationic population of its zeolites M was not effective enough in removing ammonium and, in the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) test, allowed bacterial growth even at a concentration of 50 mg/mL. Inhibition was achieved with M-Na because it contained sodium zeolites capable of maximizing NH₄⁺ subtraction, although the MIC was high (30 mg/mL). M-Zn evidenced a more effective inhibitory capacity, with a MIC of 4 mg/mL. Zinc has antimicrobial properties and H. pylori growth was affected by Zn²⁺ released from clinoptilolite and mordenite. These zeolites, being more selective towards NH₄⁺ than Zn²⁺, can also subtract ammonium to the bacterium, thus enhancing the efficacy of M-Zn.

Sorption of Pb(II) from Aqueous Solutions by Acid-Modified Clinoptilolite-Rich Tuffs with Different Si/Al Ratios

The removal of Pb(II) from aqueous solutions by acid-modified clinoptilolite-rich tuff was investigated in this work. Clinoptilolite-rich tuff samples were treated using H2SO4 at different concentrations. Prior to and following acid treatment, the samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The pH of the point of zero charge (pHPZC) was also determined as part of this characterization. Batch studies were studied to investigate Pb(II) removal as a function of contact time, initial Pb(II) concentration, adsorbent dosage, and solution pH. The results of the XRD and SEM techniques showed that clinoptilolite is the main mineral of the non- and acid-treated natural zeolite samples. However, EDS analysis indicated that the Si/Al ratio increases as the exchangeable ions decrease with increasing acid concentrations. The optimum conditions for Pb(II) removal for samples with 4.37 ≤ Si/Al ≤ 7.9 were found to be as follows: Contact time of 60–360 min, pH: 6–8, and adsorbent dose of 6 mg g−1; whereas for acid-modified clinoptilolite-rich tuffs with 9.01 ≤ Si/Al ≤ 9.52, these conditions were as follows: Contact time of 1440 min, pH: 8–10, and adsorbent dose of 10 mg g−1. The experimental data were analyzed by kinetic and isotherms models. The results showed that the sorption of Pb(II) on samples with Si/Al ratios of 4.37, 5.31, and 7.91 were in agreement with the pseudo-second order and Langmuir isotherm with qm = 48.54, 37.04, and 14.99 mg g−1, respectively, while the kinetic data and isotherm for samples with 9.01 ≤ Si/Al ≤ 9.52 were found to fit the pseudo-first order and Freundlich model.

Facile fabrication of PS/Fe3O4@PANi nanocomposite particles and their application for the effective removal of Cu2+

Herein we reported a facile approach to fabricating polystyrene/Fe₃O₄@polyaniline nanocomposite particles with high adsorption capacity and good recyclability for Cu²⁺.

Influence of Butyrate Loaded Clinoptilolite Dietary Supplementation on Growth Performance, Development of Intestine and Antioxidant Capacity in Broiler Chickens

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary butyrate loaded clinoptilolite (CLI-B) on growth performance, pancreatic digestive enzymes, intestinal development and histomorphology, as well as antioxidant capacity of serum and intestinal mucosal in chickens. Two hundred forty 1-day-old commercial Arbor Acres broilers were randomly assigned to 4 groups: CON group (fed basal diets), SB group (fed basal diet with 0.05% sodium butyrate), CLI group (fed basal diet with 1% clinoptilolite), and CLI-B group (fed basal diet with 1% CLI-B). The results showed that supplementation of CLI-B significantly decreased (P < 0.05) feed conservation ratio at both 21 and 42 days of age, improved the pancreatic digestive enzymes activities (P < 0.05), increased the villus length and villus/crypt ratio (P < 0.05), and decreased the crypt depth of intestine (P < 0.05) as compared to the other experimental groups. Furthermore, the CLI-B environment improved the antioxidant capacity by increasing the antioxidant enzyme activities (P < 0.05) in intestine mucosal, and decreasing the NO content and iNOS activity (P < 0.05) in serum. In addition, CLI-B supplementation had improved the development of intestine and antioxidant capacity of broilers than supplementation with either clinoptilolite or butyrate sodium alone. In conclusion, 1% CLI-B supplementation improved the health status, intestine development and antioxidant capacity in broiler chickens, thus appearing as an important feed additive for the poultry industry.

Ce-Fe-modified zeolite-rich tuff to remove Ba(2+)-like (226)Ra(2+) in presence of As(V) and F(-) from aqueous media as pollutants of drinking water

The sorption behavior of the Ba(2+)-like (226)Ra(2+) in the presence of H2AsO4(-)/HAsO4(2-) and F(-) from aqueous media using Ce-Fe-modified zeolite-rich tuff was investigated in this work. The Na-modified zeolite-rich tuff was also considered for comparison purposes. The zeolite-rich tuff collected from Wyoming (US) was in contact with NaCl and CeCl3-FeCl3 solutions to obtain the Na- and Ce-Fe-modified zeolite-rich tuffs (ZUSNa and ZUSCeFe). These zeolites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The BET-specific surface and the points of zero charge were determined as well as the content of Na, Ce and Fe by neutron activation analysis. The textural characteristics and the point of zero charge were changed by the presence of Ce and Fe species in the zeolitic network. A linear model described the Ba(2+)-like (226)Ra(2+) sorption isotherms and the distribution coefficients (Kd) varied with respect to the metallic species present in the zeolitic material. The As(V) oxianionic chemical species and F(-) affected this parameter when the Ba(2+)-like (226)Ra(2+)-As(V)-F(-) solutions were in contact with ZUSCeFe. The H2AsO4(-)/HAsO4(2-) and F(-) were adsorbed by ZUSCeFe in the same amount, independent of the concentration of Ba(2+)-like (226)Ra(2+) in the initial solution.

Recovery of nutrients from wastewater by a MgCl2 modified zeolite and their reuse as an amendment for Cu and Pb immobilization in soil

In this study, nutrients in wastewater were simultaneously removed by magnesium modified zeolite, and the precipitates of the nutrient recovery process were applied as a kind of amendment to achieve copper and lead immobilization in contaminated soil.

Dealumination of clinoptilolite and its effect on zinc removal from acid rock drainage

Clinoptilolite, a natural zeolite, is capable of removing heavy metals from acid rock drainage (ARD). Previous studies have neglected the dealumination of clinoptilolite and its impact during remediation. This study observed the dealumination of clinoptilolite during ARD remediation in a slurry bubble column (SBC), and investigated its impact on the capture of zinc. Uptake tests were performed with natural ARD and various sorbent average particle diameters from 300 to 1400μm, superficial gas velocities from 0.08 to 0.23ms(-1), initial aqueous pH from 2 to 6, Zn concentrations from 15 to 215ppm and sorbent/solution mass ratios from 25 to 400gkg(-1) to test zinc uptake. Dealumination of clinoptilolite was sometimes observed during the uptake process. Increased Al in the aqueous phase led to co-precipitation of Zn-Al colloid, enhanced by abundant sulfate in solution. The unit zinc uptake of the Al colloid was found to be much higher than for the raw clinoptilolite.

A comparative adsorption study of C2H4 and SO2 on clinoptilolite-rich tuff: effect of acid treatment

In this study, ethylene (C2H4) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) adsorption properties of clinoptilolite tuff from Gördes, Turkey and that of acid treated forms were studied at 293K using volumetric apparatus up to 38 and 100 kPa, respectively. In order to consider the effect of acid treatment on structural and gas adsorption properties of zeolite, clinoptilolite mineral was modified with 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0M HCl solutions at 70 °C during 3h. XRD, XRF, TG/DTG, DTA and N2 adsorption methods were employed for thermal and structural characterization of clinoptilolite samples before and after the acid treatment. SO2 adsorption capacities (2.356-2.739 mmol/g) of the clinoptilolite samples were superior to those of the C2H4 adsorptions (0.619-1.219 mmol/g).

Sorption of HDTMA cations on Croatian natural mordenite tuff

Sorption of the cationic surfactant, hexadecyltrimethylammonium cations (HDTMA), on the solid/liquid interface of the natural mordenite tuff (MT) was studied. The examined tuff originated from Croatia consisting of 30% of mordenite. SEM observations confirmed the crystalline nature of mordenite which can be described in terms of aggregates of many small platelets with diameters in the range of 1 μm. Studying the porosity properties of MT, it was found that the average pore diameter (4.42 nm) between mordenite's platelets allows penetration of HDTMA cations. The measurements of zeta potential indicated that in MT samples with surfactant concentration in the range between 0.013 and 0.25 mmol/g, HDTMA cations fill the mesopores of MT. By further increase in HDTMA concentration, the surfactant sorbs on the external zeolite surface, as revealed by the SEM micrographs. Vibrational (FTIR and FT Raman) spectra showed that in the MT samples with initial HDTMA concentration from 0.013 to 0.25 mmol/g, alkyl chains adopt mainly gauche conformation, whereas in the MT samples with higher initial HDTMA concentrations trans conformers are predominant and form a highly ordered structure on the mordenite surface.

The ground water ammonium sorption onto Croatian and Serbian clinoptilolite

The removal of ammonium from the Valpovo region ground water (VGW) with the use of natural clinoptilolite samples from the Donje Jesenje deposit (Croatia) and the Zlatokop deposit in Vranjska Banja (Serbia) was studied. The natural Serbian (SZ) and Croatian zeolites (CZ) were transformed to the Na-form (Na-CZ and Na-SZ) in order to increase the exchange capacity of zeolite. The CZ and SZ theoretic ammonium sorption capacities were 24.24 mg NH(4)(+)/g CZ and 32.55 mg NH(4)(+)/g SZ, respectively. The application of natural and Na-form of clinoptilolite for efficient removal of ammonium ions from VGW was further investigated. For that purpose, the four "filter guard" vessels filled with zeolite samples were set in parallel in the ground water purification pilot plant. The complete ammonium removal, with the use of SZ and Na-SZ was achieved during 20 h. After having observed saturation of clinoptilolite, the samples were regenerated with the use of 2 mol/L NaCl, and reused for determination of ammonium sorption efficiency. The regenerated samples showed to be still very efficient for NH(4)(+) removal and, in addition, the SZ was shown as superior for ammonium removal in comparison to the CZ.

Interaction of surfactant-modified zeolites and phosphate accumulating bacteria

The aim of this study was to determine the interaction of surfactant-modified zeolites (SMZ) and orthophosphate (P)-accumulating bacteria in the process of P removal from wastewater. The SMZ were prepared from the natural zeolite (NZ) of size fractions <0.122 mm and 0.25-0.5 mm. The hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA) bromide was used to modify the NZ surface from partial monolayer to the bilayer coverage. The surface modification of NZ resulted in the change of zeta potential of particles from negative to positive and great enhancement of the P-adsorption capacity. Only in reactors containing <0.122 mm fraction of partial monolayer coverage of the SMZ, the P was efficiently removed from wastewater by combined adsorption onto the SMZ and bacterial uptake in the biomass. The SMZ with bilayer or patchy bilayer coverage showed the bactericidal effect. To enhance the P removal from wastewater in the aerated biological system, the SMZ can be used, but the special attention should be given to the configuration of sorbed HDTMA molecules and its potential desorption.

Interaction between organic vapors and clinoptilolite–mordenite rich tuffs in parent, decationized, and lead exchanged forms

Scientific interest in adsorption phenomena of organic vapors has concentrated on synthetic zeolites. Solid-vapor systems containing natural zeolites deserve special attention due to their abundance and environmental applications. Adsorption thermodynamic characteristics for benzene, toluene, n-hexane, and CCl(4) were measured on clinoptilolite-rich zeolitic tuffs from Mexico (ZE) and Hungary (ZH) on parent, decationized, dealuminated, and lead-exchanged samples. The clinoptilolite structure released Na(+) and Ca(2+) by acid treatment and this was accompanied by dealumination to a greater extent on ZE than on ZH. The exchange isotherm of Pb(2+) on ZE exhibited a concave type "a" form and accomplished 95% exchange and the tuff was selective at X(i(s))<0.25. The pattern of adsorption isotherms was the same on all tuffs: benzene>toluene>n-hexane>carbon tetrachloride. The -DeltaH values were higher for toluene than for the other adsorbates. Curves of q(isost) vs coverage decreased with the increment of the adsorbed amount in practically all studied systems. The contributions to the solid-vapor interaction potential were examined using inverse gas chromatography. The specific interaction energy G(sp) was primarily due to adsorbate-framework and adsorbate-cation interactions at low adsorbate pressures producing low surface coverage.