LAUSR

Abstract EAB zeolite was successfully prepared and applied to selective adsorption of Li+, Na+ and K+ ions. The physical and chemical properties of the adsorbent were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and thermogravimetry (TG) methods. The ion exchange behaviours for Li+, Na+ and K+ ions in monomcomponent and multicomponent solutions were studied. In independent ion exchange, the ion exchange capacities ratios α(Na/Li) and α(K/Li) were 3.8 and 6.2, respectively. In competitive ion exchange, the selectivities β(Na/Li) and β(K/Li) increased with the initial concentrations and reached 409 and 992 when the initial concentrations was 100 mmol/L. The thermodynamic study results showed that Gibbs free energy change (ΔGΘ) of ion exchange reaction between Li-EAB and K+ was −34.96 kJ/mol, indicating that ion exchange of K+ ions was more energetically favourable than Li+ ions. The calculation results showed that the energy barriers of ion exchange increased in the order K+