Ion exchange and adsorption equilibrium studies on clinoptilolite, bentonite and vermiculite

In the present paper three natural minerals used in many industrial and environmental applications namely zeolite clinoptilolite and the clays bentonite and vermiculite are studied by utilising ion exchange and adsorption. In particular, the Dubinin–Astakhov adsorption isotherm is used modified by introducing a solubility-normalized adsorption potential for studying the ion exchange process. The equation, is applied in experimental isotherms in order to determine adsorption energy and heterogeneity parameter for the ion exchange of Pb2+ in the natural minerals. The results indicate that the modified Dubinin–Astakhov adsorption isotherm represents the experimental data well and at the same time provides the heterogeneity parameter of the materials, which is an important adsorbent physical parameter as well as the adsorption energy. In order to deepen the study and link the results to the pore structure BET analysis is presented as well.