Zeolite performance in removal of multicomponent heavy metal contamination from wastewater.

Efficient removal of heavy metal pollutants from wastewater by ion-exchange sorbents requires knowledge and understanding of the interplay between the adsorption patterns of the different components. The present study elucidates the simultaneous adsorption characteristics of six toxic heavy metal cations (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) by two synthetic (13X and 4 A) and one natural (clinoptilolite) zeolite from solutions containing equimolar mixtures of the six metals. Equilibrium adsorption isotherms and equilibration dynamics were obtained by ICP-OES and complemented by EDXRF.