Retardation of chromate through packed columns of surfactant-modified zeolite

In this study, zeolite aggregates with particle size < 0.4, 1.4-2.4, and 3.6-4.8 mm were modified by the cationic surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA) bromide to a surfactant loading level of 80, 130, and 250 mmol kg(-1), respectively. The modified and unmodified zeolites were subjected to column tests to study the chromate transport and retardation as affected by particle size. At an input concentration of 11-15 mg L(-1), unmodified zeolite did not retard chromate transport for all three particle size ranges. In contrast, the observed retardation factor for chromate, defined as the number of pore volumes passed when the output concentration equals to half of the input concentration, was 55, 50, and 500 for the columns packed with 3.6-4.8, 1.4-2.4, and < 0.4 mm modified zeolite, respectively. Prolonged tailing of chromate desorption from the modified zeolite was the most striking feature after the feeding solution was switched from chromate to water at full breakthrough. Monitoring of HDTMA and counterion bromide concentration in the effluent revealed that slow but persistent desorption of HDTMA and bromide occurred throughout the transport experiment, which resulted in stripping off of the upper layer of the surfactant bilayer formation on zeolite. The change of HDTMA surfactant surface configuration from bilayer to monolayer resulted in a loss of functionality to absorb and immobilize chromate on the modified zeolite surfaces.