Removal of Ag(I) from Aqueous Solution by Japanese Natural Clinoptilolite

The present study examined the adsorption of silver ion in aqueous solution onto natural clinoptilolite zeolite from Futatsui Mine, Akita Prefecture, Japan. The effects of various parameters, i.e., solution pH, adsorbent dosage, adsorption time, silver ion solution concentration, and temperature, on silver ion adsorption process onto clinoptilolite were examined. Additionally, the thermodynamics of the silver ion adsorption process was investigated. The optimum pH for silver adsorption was determined to be around 4.0. The adsorption process could be well described by the Langmuir isotherm model. The calculated maximum adsorption capacity was 0.64 mmol/g. Adsorption kinetics studies were also conducted. The results showed that the adsorption process preferentially followed the pseudo-second-order kinetics model over the pseudo-first-order model. Furthermore, with decreasing aqueous solution temperatures, the adsorption kinetics became slower and the amount of silver ion adsorbed increased. The thermodynamic values, ΔG, ΔH, and ΔS, indicated that adsorption was an exothermic and spontaneous process.