Production and characterization of Zeolite-A nanoparticles for the treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater

Abstract

This study investigated the production and characterization of Zeolite-A nanoparticles for treating pharmaceutical wastewater. The Zeolite-A exhibited a surface area of 17.06 m²/g, pore size of 9.206 nm, and pore volume of 0.1946 cc/g, highlighting its suitability for adsorption. The adsorption efficiency was evaluated based on contact time, dosage, and temperature. Significant adsorption occurred within the first 20 minutes for chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu), with concentrations reaching near saturation, followed by minor declines. For Cr, concentrations peaked at 52.6 μg/g, Fe at 48.32 μg/g, and Cu at 42.31 μg/g, before slightly decreasing. The effect of adsorbent dosage showed that increasing the dosage from 0.4 g to 1.2 g significantly enhanced metal removal, with Cu rising from 34.62 μg/g to 96.12 μg/g, Fe from 41.83 μg/g to 92.15 μg/g, and Cr from 43.51 μg/g to 94.16 μg/g. Temperature analysis revealed improved adsorption at higher temperatures, with Cu increasing from 29.1 μg/g at 30°C to 62.15 μg/g at 70°C, Fe from 26.16 μg/g to 55.9 μg/g, and Cr from 28.16 μg/g to 73.7 μg/g. These findings suggest that Zeolite-A nanoparticles effectively remove toxic metals from pharmaceutical wastewater, offering the potential for large-scale wastewater treatment.