Study of ⁶³Ni adsorption on NKF-6 zeolite

The adsorption of ⁶³Ni from aqueous solutions using NKF-6 zeolite was investigated by a batch technique under ambient conditions. The adsorption was investigated as a function of contact time, pH, ionic strength, foreign ions, humic substances (FA/HA) and temperature. The kinetic adsorption was well described by the pseudo-second-order rate equation. The adsorption of ⁶³Ni on NKF-6 zeolite was strongly dependent on pH and ionic strength, and the adsorption of ⁶³Ni increased with increasing NKF-6 zeolite content. At low pH values, the presence of FA enhanced the adsorption of ⁶³Ni on NKF-6 zeolite, but the presence of HA had no drastic effect. At high pH values, the presence of FA or HA decreased the adsorption of ⁶³Ni on NKF-6 zeolite. The adsorption isotherms were well represented by the Langmuir model. The thermodynamic parameters (i.e., ΔH(0), ΔS(0)and ΔG(0)) for the adsorption of ⁶³Ni were determined from the temperature dependent isotherms at 293.15, 313.15 and 333.15 °K, respectively, and the results indicate that the adsorption reaction was favored at high temperature. The results suggest that the adsorption process of ⁶³Ni on NKF-6 zeolite is spontaneous and endothermic.