Effect of pH on ammonium adsorption by natural Zeolite clinoptilolite

Clinoptilolite, a zeolite mineral with a high cation exchange capacity and surface area, has ion‐exchange properties that can be utilized to adsorb NH4 +, protecting it from losses during composting of N‐rich animal manures. Ammonium adsorption by the natural zeolite clinoptilolite was studied to ascertain the effectiveness of the zeolite as an NH4 + adsorbent at pH 4, 5, 6, and 7. The NH4 + adsorption data were fitted to the one‐ and two‐surface Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherms. All models described the NH4 +adsorption data successfully (r2≥0.939). The one‐surface Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin were converted to pH‐dependent forms. The amount of NH4 + adsorbed increased as pH and initial NH4 +concentration increased. From the one‐surface Langmuir isotherm, the NH4 +adsorption capacity (Xm) of the zeolite increased linearly with pH (r2=0.994), and was estimated to be 9,660 mg N kg‐1 at pH4, 11,220 mg N kg‐1 at pH 5, 12,720 mg N kg‐1 at pH 6, and 13,830 mg N kg‐1 at pH 7. The adsorption of higher amounts of NH4 +with increasing pH and initial NH4 +concentration is an important characteristic of the zeolite that can be beneficial to minimizing N‐losses via NH3volatilization during composting of N‐rich animal manures.