AMMONIA REMOVAL FROM COMPOSTING LEACHATE USING ZEOLITE. I. CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ZEOLITE

The effects of ammonium concentrations, contact time, and zeolite particle sizes on the ammonium adsorption capacities of a Canadian zeolite were studied using batch experiments. Both the rates and capacities of ammonium adsorption increased with increased concentrations of ammonium in solution. Ammonium adsorption increased significantly with decreasing zeolite particle size for all tests and the adsorption capacities ranged from 14.35–17.81 mg N/g. Also, ammonia adsorption increased with contact time, and it occurred rapidly at the beginning of contact, and then gradually decreased as time progressed. Langmuir isotherm best describes the equilibrium of ammonia adsorption on zeolite. Particle diffusion was the rate-controlling mechanism for the first 4 h of contact. In spite of competition potassium ions, zeolite has shown a great potential for ammonia removal from composting leachates.

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