Effect of Acid Treatment on the Structure of Natural Zeolite from the Shankanay Deposit

This study investigated the effect of boiling aggressive media, namely acetic and nitric acids, on the structural integrity of natural zeolite from the Shankhanai deposit. A comprehensive physicochemical analysis, encompassing Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), elemental analysis, and electron microscopy, demonstrated that the fundamental structure of the natural zeolite remained largely unaffected following exposure to the boiling acids. These findings highlight the resilience of the Shankhanai natural zeolite to the tested harsh environments, with no evidence of significant structural breakdown under the employed conditions, thus emphasizing its potential for applications in adsorption, catalysis, and ion exchange.