Regeneration of Zeolite Filters Using Electrophoresis.

Heavy metal contamination of water resources is a valid and growing concern. In recent research clay minerals have been used to remediate heavy metal contaminated water. In this study, clay-sized clinoptilolite (zeolite) particles were saturated with Cd⁺² to represent a zeolite filter used to remediate heavy metal contamination. Electrophoresis was then used to regenerate the zeolite utilizing electricity-enabled opposing movement of the zeolite and Cd⁺² in the electrophoresis unit. Dying methods, SEM, and ICP were used to evaluate the regeneration process.