Sorption of Silver Cations by Natural and Na-Exchanged Mordenite

Abstract

Sorption of Ag⁺ by natural mordenite and its Na-exchanged form was investigated by the batch method. Maximum Ag⁺ uptake was observed at initial pH > 3.0 and contact time 90 min. The kinetic data fitted very well to the pseudo-second-order rate model with values of k ₂ from 37.31 to 0.487 and 48.32 to 0.491 g/meq min for the natural and Na-exchanged mordenite, respectively. The Langmuir model is in good correlation with the isotherm data up to initial concentration of 500 mg Ag⁺/L (q _m = 57.41 (natural sample) and 87.72 mg/g (Na-exchanged sample). The obtained data are promising for clean-up of polluted water.

Keywords:

• natural and Na-mordenite
• silver
• sorption
• sorption mechanism