Zeolite-based composites for the adsorption of toxic matters from water: A review

The adsorption of toxic matters from water using zeolites has been developed due to the low cost of operation and adsorbent. However, their use due to the lower efficiency of natural zeolites and the difficult reusability of nanosized-synthetic zeolites is limited. In recent twenty years, the use of zeolite-based composites in the forms of zeolite/inorganic and zeolite/polymer composites has been accelerated for the adsorption of toxic matters from water sources. This review summarized the recent studies on the capability of zeolite-based composites toward toxic matters adsorption such as heavy metal ions, dyes, herbicides, and drugs from water. The main adsorption mechanisms using the zeolite-based composites are surface adsorption, chelation, ion exchange, electrostatic interaction, diffusion and, complexation. The comparison of the capability of zeolite-based composites and raw zeolites for the removal of toxic matters from the water provides the valuable applicability of the zeolite-based composites for actual wastewater treatment in the future. [Display omitted] •In the past decade zeolite based-composite adsorbents have been developed for water treatment.•Various inorganic/zeolite and polymer/zeolite composites have been discussed for water treatment.•Polymer/zeolite composites showed the best performance for wastewater treatment.•More studies are required for commercial use of zeolite based-composite for adsorption process.