UPTAKE OF LEAD AND CADMIUM BY CLINOPTILOLITE

The ion exchange systems of lead and cadmium, using the zeolite cinlin optilolite, were examined. The metal uptake is increased with increasi ng temperature. At low temperatures the exchange of lead is mainly wit h the sodium ions but at higher temperatures potassium present in the zeolite lattice can be replaced, increasing the metal uptake. In the c ase of cadmium, the exchange occurs only with sodium ions, irrespectiv e of the temperature of the solution. The zeolite particle size influe nces significantly the metal uptake. An increase is observed with decr easing particLe size. From the experimental results the diffusion coef ficients and activation energies of the ion exchange systems are calcu lated.