Evaluation of phillipsite as cation exchanger in lead removal from water

The ability of phillipsite to remove lead from water was evaluated by determining lead exchange isotherms with sodium- or potassium-exchanged phillipsite and by studying the kinetics of sodium exchange for lead and, lastly, by testing lead uptake in a column, in which fixed beds of sodium-enriched phillipsite tuff grains were percolated by lead-containing solutions. The collected data evidenced a remarkable selectivity of sodium phillipsite for lead in equilibrium experiments, fast kinetics, and massive lead removal from water in column runs, even in the presence of substantial amounts of sodium as interfering cation. The favourable lead elution during regeneration of exhausted phillipsite together with the above mentioned results in the exchange experiments allow to forecast a profitable utilization of phillipsite in lead removal from waste water