High-silica Zeolites as Novel Adsorbents for the Removal of Organic Micro-pollutants in Water Treatment

A broad range of organic micropollutants (OMPs), including pesticides, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, are present in drinking water sources and effluent of wastewater treatment plants (Kolpin et al., 2002; Stackelberg et al., 2004). The presence of OMPs in water significantly threatens public health and thus calls for effective treatment technologies (Alan et al., 2008; Pal et al., 2010). Zeolites are highly structured minerals with uniform micropores (pore diameters < 2nm) (McCusker and Baerlocher 2001). The pores of zeolites allow for the adsorption of OMPs and potentially avoid the negative influence of natural organic matter (NOM) (de Ridder et al., 2012; Hung and Lin 2006; Knappe and Campos 2005). High-silica zeolites have hydrophobic surfaces, which could prevent water competition with OMP adsorption (Maesen 2007; Rakic et al., 2010; Tsitsishvili 1973). High-silica zeolites are thus expected to be potential alternative adsorbents for activated carbon in water treatment