The Use of a Zeolite Filter Media for the Removal of Ammonium Ions from Wastewater by Filtration

Abstract

Experimental investigation of ammonium ions removal from artificially polluted wastewater using natural zeolite was carried out on pilot scaled filter at Water Management Department laboratory, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University. The purpose of this study was to test whether different fractions of zeolite that were obtained naturally (Sokyrnytskaya clinoptilolite, Ukraine) could influence either the removal of ammonium from wastewater and/or has possible uses as a filter media. For this study’s purpose, zeolite filter media was used as a natural sorbent for testing in a laboratory filter column of wastewater that was enriched with NH4Cl and had substantial amounts of ammonium. This research demonstrated that different granulated natural zeolite particle sizes, promoted the significant removal of ammonium ions from artificially polluted wastewater.