Mineralogy and adsorption capacity of zeolite from South Xerovouni (Avdella, Evros) and potential environmental applications
Doctoral thesis, Author: Tzamos, Evangelos Ioannis, Supervisor: Filippidis, A., Professor, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Sciences, Department of Geology.
The zeolite-bearing volcanic clastic sediments of Southern Xerovouni (Avdella, Evros Prefecture) contain, on average, 57% by weight of HEU-type zeolite, 6% by weight of smectite, 3% by weight of marmatite (a total of 66% by weight of microporous minerals), 19% by weight of astrios, 10% by weight of cristobalite and 5% by weight of quartz (a total of 34% non-microporous minerals). The chemical composition of these sediments is: 69.9% by weight SiO₂, 13.2% by weight Al₂O₃, 1.2% by weight Fe₂O₃, 1.0% by weight MgO, 3.0% by weight CaO, 1.5% by weight Na₂O and 2.2% by weight K₂O. The sediments under investigation exhibit an average ion exchange capacity (binding capacity) of 150 meq/100 g. The ion exchange capacity is mainly attributed to the HEU-type zeolite, whilst smectite and micas contribute relatively less to it. The ion exchange capacity of the five zeolite samples showed positive correlations with their HEU-type zeolite content-HEU, as well as with their total content of microporous minerals (zeolite
+ smectite + marmatite). The mineralogical and physicochemical characteristics make the zeolite-bearing rock of Southern Xerovouni suitable for potential environmental applications such as: improving the quality of drinking water, treating urban, industrial and agricultural liquid waste, treating sewage sludge, purifying radioactive liquids, improving the quality of aquatic ecosystems, fish farming, soil conditioning for acidic and alkaline soils and agricultural crops, odour control, oil spill clean-up, gas purification and drying, as well as oxygen enrichment and air conditioning in buildings.
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