Nanocrystalline Zeolite Synthesis and Heavy Metal Removal

The development of nanotechnology has generated much interest in the zeolite research area particularly in the synthesis of zeolite nanocrystal and its application. The reduction of particle size to the nanometer scale leads to substantial changes in the properties of zeolite, making them promising materials for many applications including adsorption. The characterization results in this research proves that nanocrystalline zeolite A (LTA), zeolite Y (FAU), silicate-1 (MFI) and ZSM-5 (MFI) have been successfully synthesised. The smallest average particle size observed is 33.87 nm. In adsorption study, heavy metal ion (Pb2+ and Cr3+) removal by using the synthesized nanocrystal of zeolite A (LTA),zeolite Y (FAU),silicate-1 (MFI) and ZSM-5 (MFI) give very good adsorption capacity compared with other adsorbents. Based on adsorption isotherm analysis,the maximum adsorption capacity of heavy metal ions follows the order of zeolite A> zeolite Y> ZSM-5 >silicate-1. Kinetic adsorption analysis of the nanozeolite shows that the pseudo first order and second order kinetics would be good in fitting the dynamic adsorption of both Cr and Pb cations.