| Affiliation: | 1. National Institute of Chemistry, Department of Inorganic Chemistry and Technology, Hajdrihova 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;2. University of Nova Gorica, Vipavska 13, 5000 Nova Gorica, Slovenia Institute Jožef Stefan, Department of low and medium energy physics, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;3. Institute Jožef Stefan, Department of Surface Engineering and Optoelectronics, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;4. Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Bl. 9, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria |
| Abstract: | The mechanism of Cu2+ loading into commercially available natural HEU-type and synthetic LTA-type zeolites for their possible use in environmental processes, such as water and air treatment applications, was studied. Elemental analysis, SEM/EDXS, XRD, XAS and XPS analyses revealed 4-fold coordination of Cu2+ cations with oxygen atoms in the pores, a predominant location of copper atoms on the surface of crystallites and retained crystallinity of zeolites throughout the processes. The post-treatment of Cu2+-loaded samples with HCl and/or NaCl solutions confirmed the predominantly reversible sorption of copper on zeolites from aqueous solutions by ion-exchange mechanism and, therefore, excellent regeneration possibilities for both types of zeolites. Furthermore, with the calcination of exhaust metal-loaded zeolites, catalysts for total toluene oxidation reaction, as a model VOC pollutant, were obtained. |
