Preparation and Characterization of Octyltrimethylammonium (OTMA)-Hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA) Modified Zeolite Y for the Removal of Arsenate, As(V) in Aqueous Solution

• Main Author: Placido, Ma. Graciele
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2020
• Subjects: zeolite, surfactant modified zeolites, surfactant-modified zeolite Y; arsenate; surfactant; arsenate removal; zeolite
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/theses-dissertations/491
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

Exposure to water contaminated with higher levels of arsenate, As(V), may cause several human health problems. Thus, removal of this contaminant is of primary importance. At present, adsorption technique was identified as a simple and effective technique for the elimination of As(V) in water and the success of As(V) removal via this technique depends largely on the development of effective sorbent materials. In this study, surfactant modified zeolite Y was synthesized, characterized and was used for the removal of As(V) in aqueous solutions. X-ray diffraction analysis of the sample confirms that the synthesized product is a Y-type zeolite and its crystalline structure had been retained upon surfactant modification. As(V) was then adsorbed using OTMA-HDTMA modified zeolite Y. Isotherm data observed fitted well to Freundlich isotherm model. The OTMA-HDTMA modified zeolite Y exhibited high adsorption capacity for As(V) because surfactant modification allows the formation of a bilayer-like structure on zeolite surface thus altering its surface charge (from negative to positive) therefore providing sites for sorption of anions such as As(V) for which untreated zeolites have little affinity.