Zeolite synthesis and its application in water defluorination

Abstract Kaolin from Teleku Bokazo, a town in the Ellembele district of the Western Region in Ghana was used to synthesize zeolite by hydrothermal process and further modified with aluminium sulphate (alum). The kaolin and zeolite samples were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The characterization processes were done to identify their composition, crystalline phases present, morphology, and to help determine if the synthesis and modification processes were successful. The as-synthesized zeolite and alum-modified zeolite were used for batch fluoride adsorption to compare their efficiency in removing fluoride ions from water. It was observed that the modified zeolite had the highest efficiency in removing fluoride ions from the contaminated water with a maximum of 98.87% removal. The Langmuir model best described the adsorption process with a maximum adsorption capacity of 2.43 mg/g.