This paper presents the applicability of natural zeolite (Clinoptilolite) for recovery of ammonium nitrogen from high-strength wastewater stream. Isotherm experiments showed the ammonium exchange Clinoptilolite followed Freundlich isotherm and its maximum exchange capacity was 18.13 mg NH4+-N/g zeolite. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis indicated that a significant amount of nitrogen was adsorbed to the Clinoptilolite. Optimal flowrate for recovery of high concentration ammonium nitrogen was determined at 16 BV/d (=19.2 L/min) throughout the lab-scale column studies operated under various flowrate conditions. This study also provided a method to determine the recovery rate of final product of nitrogen fertilizer based on the model application to the lab-scale continuous data.

The coarse-grained (0.05∼0.2mm) zeolites occur as the single-crystal cement in the sandstones of the Chunbuk Formation in the Pohang area. The zeolite cements unusually consist of the composite phases of heulandite and clinoptilolite and in a crystal. The zeolite crystals show chemical zoning ranging from 3.56 to 4.10 in Si/(Al+Fe), and tend to become continuously more silicic and alkalic from the margin toward inside of the crystal. The DTA and high-temperature XRD analyses also show complex patterns of both zeolites. Such a composite crystal showing chemical zoning and complex thermo-chemical behaviors indicates that heulandite and clinoptilolite are constituting a solid solution resulted from the coupled substitution of K+Si4+=Ca2+Al3+.