몽골(6종), 미국(1종), 한국(9종)지역에서 채취한 총 16종의 천연 제올라이트를 X-선 회절 분석, X-선 형광 분석, 열 시차, 열 중량 분석 및 양이온 교환능 분석을 통해 특성분석을 수행하였다. 16종의 시료 모두 두 종류 이상의 광물상이 공존하는 혼합광 형태이며, 주로 클라이놉틸로라이트, 휼란다이트, 모데나이트 및 차 바자이트와 같은 광물의 조합으로 이루어져 있으며, 일부 시료에서는 운모 점토광물인 일라이트와 석영과 같은 광물이 불순물로 함유되어 있었다. X-선 형광 분석 결과 16종의 천연 제올라이트는 SiO2, Al2O3, K2O, CaO, Na2O, MgO 및 Fe2O3 산화물이 함유되어 있었다. 미국 천연 제올라이트인 U-1 시료가 223.3 meq/100 g으로 양이온 교환능이 가장 높게 나타났으며 몽골 천연 제올라이트에서는 M-6 시료가, 한국 천연 제올라이트에서는 K-1 시료가 각각 166.6 meq/100 g으로 가장 높게 나타났다. 열시차 및 열중량 분석 결과 16종의 시료 모두 600℃까지 열적으로 안정성이 우수한 것을 확인 하였다.

The three domestic natural zeolites(Yong dong-ri (Y), Daesin-ri (D), Seogdong-ri (S)) harvested in Kyeongju-shi and Pohang-shi, Kyungsangbug-Do, were pretreated with each of the NaOH, Ca(OH)2, and NaOH following HCl solutions, and the removal performances of divalent heavy metals(Cu, Mn, Pb, and Sr) for natural and pretreated zeolites were investigated and compared in the single and mixed solutions. The natural zeolite-heavy metal system attained the final equilibrium plateau within 20 min, irrespective of initial heavy metal concentration. The heavy metal uptakes increased with increasing initial heavy metal concentration and pH. The heavy metal uptakes for natural zeolites decreased in the following sequences : D>Y>S among the natural zeolites; Pb>Cu>Sr>Mn among the heavy metals. The pretreated zeolites showed higher heavy metal removal performances than natural zeolites and decreased in the order of NaOH, NaOH following HCl, Ca(OH)2 treatment among the pretreatment methods. The heavy metal ion exchange capacity by natural and pretreated zeolites was described either by Freundlich equation or Langmuir equation, but it followed the former better than the latter. The heavy metal uptakes for natural zeolites decreased in the mixed solution, in comparing with those in the single solution and especially, the manganese uptake decreased greatly in the mixed solution. The pretreated zeolites showed the improved removal performances of heavy metals in the mixed solution than in the single solution and the heavy metal uptakes by those in the mixed solution showed the same trends in the single solution among the chemical treatment methods and heavy metals.

The three natural zeolites collected in Yungil-gun, Kyungsangbuk-do, Korea, were analyzed by means of chemical wet methods and X-ray diffraction. The results indicated that the primary species of those zeolites were clinoptilolite mixed with heulandite, feldspar, montmorillonite, and quartz. These zeolites were chemically treated with NaOH, Ca(OH)_2, and HCl solution and their differences were also studied with X-ray diffraction method. The capabilities of removing Cs^+ and Sr^2+ ions with chemically untreated zeolites, chemically treated zeolites, and also with synthetic zeolites were compared. The effect of other cations in removing Sr^2+ ions was also studied. The experimental results showed that Cs+ and Sr^2+ ions could be removed up to 98% and 95% respectively out of 5 ppm with chemically untrearted natural zeolites. The treatment of 0.02N-Ca(OH)_2 and that of 2N-NaOH were most effective in removing Cs^+ and Sr^2+ ions, respectively. It was found that the mountaintop of Sangjung 1-dong natural zeolite treated with 2N-NaOH was most efficient in removing Sr^2+ ions mixed with other cations, compared with any other chemically treated and untreated natural zeolites in this work.