Factors Affecting the Efficiency of Clinoptilolite for Removing Ammonia form Water

Clinoptilolite, a natural zeolite, is efficient for removing ammonia from water. This study was done to evaluate its efficiency for removing ammonia under various conditions of water hardness, pH, and temperature, and different granule sizes. Ammonia removal efficiency was unaffected by variations in temperature, but decreased in hard waters, in waters of low and high pH, and with size of granule. Efficiency was optimum in water of 44 mg/L or less total hardness, near neutral pH, and for granules of 20 x 30 mesh size. Adsorptive capacity ranged from 3.42 to 9.12 mg of ammonia per gram of Clinoptilolite.