The sequestration of heavy metals contaminating the wonderfonteinspruit catchment area using natural zeolite

Journal article

Authors / Editors

Muzenda, Edison

Research Areas

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Frascati classification)

Publication Details

Subtitle: The sequestration of heavy metals contaminating the wonderfonteinspruit catchment area using natural zeolite

Author list: Muzenda, Edison

Publisher: World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology (WASET)

Publication year: 2011

ISSN: 2010-376X

eISSN: 2010-3778

URL: file:///C:/Users/kethmoloi/Downloads/PDF Document (1).pdf

Languages: English-United States (EN-US)

Abstract

For more than 120 years, gold mining formed the backbone the South Africa's economy. The consequence of mine closure was observed in large-scale land degradation and widespread pollution of surface water and groundwater. This paper investigates the feasibility of using natural zeolite in removing heavy metals contaminating the Wonderfonteinspruit Catchment Area (WCA), a water stream with high levels of heavy metals and radionuclide pollution. Batch experiments were conducted to study the adsorption behavior of natural zeolite with respect to Fe2+, Mn2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+. The data was analysed using the Langmuir and Freudlich isotherms. Langmuir was found to correlate the adsorption of Fe2+, Mn2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+ better, with the adsorption capacity of 11.9 mg/g, 1.2 mg/g, 1.3 mg/g, and 14.7 mg/g, respectively. Two kinetic models namely, pseudo-first order and pseudo second order were also tested to fit the data. Pseudo-second order equation was found to be the best fit for the adsorption of heavy metals by natural zeolite. Zeolite functionalization with humic acid increased its uptake ability.

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