Adsorptive, catalytic and antimicrobial applications of Serbian natural clinoptilolite

Abstract

Clinoptilolite is the most abundant natural zeolite in Serbia, and the Zlatokop deposit (near Vranjska Banja) is the largest deposit. The zeolitic tuff (CT) from Zlatokop contains >70 wt. % clinoptilolite with quartz and feldspar as major mineral impurities. Considering the high clinoptilolite content in the CT, this tuff has been studied in detail as an adsorbent, catalyst carrier and antimicrobial agent. We evaluated the cation-exchange capacity for several toxic metal cations, the sorption efficiency for several anions, the catalytic activity in the processes of valorization of biomass, and the antimicrobial activity of the CT.