• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1261-1274
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• 2020

The characteristics of ammonia-nitrogen (NH4+-N) adsorption by a zeolitic material synthesized from Jeju scoria using the fusion and hydrothermal method was studied. The synthetic zeolitic material (Z-SA) was identified as a Na-A zeolite by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence analysis and scanning electron microscopy images. The adsorption of NH4+-N using Jeju scoria and different types of zeolite such as the Z-SA, natural zeolite, and commercial pure zeolite (Na-A zeolite, Z-CS) was compared. The equilibrium of NH4+-N adsorption was reached within 30 min for Z-SA and Z-CS, and after 60 min for Jeju scoria and natural zeolite. The adsorption capacity of NH4+-N increased with approaching to neutral when pH was in the range of 3-7, but decreased above 7. The removal efficiency of NH4+-N increased with increasing Z-SA dosage, however, its adsorption capacity decreased. For initial NH4+-N concentrations of 10-200 mg/L at pH 7, the adsorption rate of NH4+-N was well described by the pseudo second-order kinetic model than the pseudo first-order kinetic model. The adsorption isotherm was well fitted by the Langmuir model. The maximum uptake of NH4+-N obtained from the Langmuir model decreased in the order of Z-CS (46.8 mg/g) > Z-SA (31.3 mg/g) > natural zeolite (5.6 mg/g) > Jeju scoria (0.2 mg/g).