Removal of Lead(II) by Mordenites

Abstract Batch studies were conducted to investigate the removal of Pb2+ using mordenite. Effects of lead concentration, solution pH, particle size and dosage of mordenite on the removal kinetics and the removal capacity of lead were investigated. It was found that the main removal mechanism was ion exchange, with Na, Ca, and K as major exchange cations. The exchange kinetics and the exchange capacity of lead with the cations in mordenite increased as the lead concentration increased. The solution pH affected the exchange rate but not the lead exchange capacity. The reaction rate at pH 5 was faster than that at pH 3. As the particle size of mordenite decreased, the reaction rate increased. The exchange rate of lead also increased as the mordenite dosage increased. A significant removal of lead by mordenite was observed. For a lead concentration of 3 ppm, 99% of the lead was removed, and for a high lead concentration (200ppm), 70% lead removal can still be achieved. It can be concluded that mordenite has a great potential to remove lead from wastewaters.