Surfactant‐Modified Natural Zeolite for Remediation of Hexavalent Chromium‐Contaminated Soil

Abstract In recent years, the issue of heavy metal contamination in soil has intensified due to rapid global industrial development, raising significant concerns about long‐term exposure effects in contaminated environments. To address the challenge of chromium contamination in soil, natural zeolite was modified using sodium chloride and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide to enhance its chromium adsorption capacity. The modified zeolite underwent comprehensive characterization through techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray fluorescence (XRF), Bruauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). These analyses revealed that the maximum adsorption capacity of the modified zeolite for chromium reached 111.11 mg g −1 , a significant improvement over the unmodified form. Furthermore, soil passivation experiments demonstrated that the modified zeolite increased the residual chromium fraction by over 60% compared to the control group, while simultaneously reducing the metal content in the free state. These findings indicate that the modified zeolite adsorbent holds significant potential for remediating chromium‐contaminated soils.