Modification on natural clinoptilolite zeolite for its ammonium retention capacity

Abstract

The natural clinoptilolite, available in Akita prefecture, Japan, was modified chemically and mechanically with changing time duration of sodium hydroxide treatment and ball to powder mass ratio in wet ball milling, respectively. The ammonium ions retention capacity of thus obtained modified clinoptilolites were found sharply increased with either increasing alkaline metal cations content or increasing specific surface area (decreasing particle size) with changing crystal structure to amorphous.