Environmental studies on the use of synthesized and natural ion exchange materials in the treatment of drinking and underground water

Abstract EN

Samples of drinking water from different sources (wells and dams) were collected for chemical analyses and monitoring the contaminants (if found) in accordance to the requirements of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The measurements were carried out using Inductive Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer (ICP-AES) and the data indicated that, the chemical composition for some water samples collected are compatible with the standard constituents for drinking water according to (WHO).

On the other hand, some water samples included high level concentrations for As, Be, Fe and Sr ions compared to (WHO).

Treatment processes for these samples were conducted using animal bones as natural ion exchanger (N.I.E.

I and N.I.E.

II) and tin silicate and iron titanate as synthetic inorganic ion exchange materials (S.I.I.E.

I and S.I.I.E.

II).

The data of chemical analysis for the water samples before and after treatment process indicated the higher efficiency of natural and synthesized inorganic ion exchange materials used for the removal of the investigated ions with the following sequence; S.I.I.E.

II ˃ S.I.I.E.

I ˃ N.I.E.

I ˃ N.I.E.

II.

This sequence means that the synthesized inorganic ion exchange materials have higher efficiency compared to the natural ion exchange materials.

On the other hand, the natural ion exchange materials can be used for its availability in the environment and for its lower cost.