The ion exchange of Na for Cr/K, Cr/Mg and Cr/Ca in Y and X zeolites was studied using breakthrough curves. It was observed that Cr3+ ions were able to remove some competitive ions that had already been exchanged at the zeolitic sites, producing a sequential ion exchange. Some mass transfer parameters such as length of unused bed, overall mass transfer coefficient, operational ratio and dimensionless variance were studied. Chromium uptake was influenced much more by the competing ion in the NaX zeolite columns. The dimensionless variance indicated that Cr/K solution produced a greater axial dispersion than the Cr/Mg and Cr/Ca systems, probably due to some interaction between Cr3+ and K+ ions. The order of dynamic selectivity, provided by the cation uptake, was Cr3+ > Ca2+, Cr3+ > Mg2+ and Cr3+ > K+ for NaY zeolite and Ca2+ ~Cr3+, Mg2+ > Cr3+ and Cr3+ > K+ for NaX zeolite. Due to the more favorable mass transfer parameters and higher affinity for Cr3+, it was concluded that NaY zeolite was more efficient at chromium uptake in competitive systems.
zeolite; multicomponent ion exchange; breakthrough curve; chromium
