Abstract
The possibility of using Jordanian phillipsie tuffs in the process of ammonium
removal from wastewaters containing other competing ions is evaluated. The
chemical and physical features and ammonium cation exchange properties of
this phillipsite-rich tuff has been determined in comparison with clinoptilolite from
Ratka mine in Hungary. The phillpsite tuff and the Hungarian zeolites in their
sodium form were exchanged by solutions containing NH 4+, Ca++, Mg++, Na+ and
K+ ions. Results from equilibrium (batch) and column tests showed that the am-
monium uptake of both zeolites are comparable, but phillipsite has higher selec-
tivity than clinoptilolite. The data obtained indicates that the Jordanian phillipsite
tuff is an excellent candidate and a competitive with clinoptilolite for the removal
of ammonia from wastewaters.