Tailoring of nanozeolite NaX for enhanced removal of a phytoestrogen from its aqueous solutions.

This study represents the application of nanozeolite NaX (NZX) synthesized by hydrothermal treatment without addition of any expensive structure directing agent for the highly effectual adsorption of biochanin A from aqueous solution. The characteristics and surface morphology of NZX were determined using FT-IR, SEM, TEM, BET, and XRD. The adsorption performance of NZX was analyzed at different conditions such as temperature, pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, and initial adsorbate concentration. The adsorption mechanism was well verified by pseudo-second-order kinetic and Redlich-Peterson isotherm models. The thermodynamic parameters revealed that the removal process was exothermic and spontaneous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]