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.