Effects of the electron beam irradiation on characterizations and the Pb(II) and cu(II) adsorption of zeolite ETS-10

Electron beam (EB) irradiation successfully shifted ETS-10 zeolite from a microporous to a mesoporous framework. • XRD and SEM confirmed crystalline framework and morphology remained stable under EB radiation up to 1000 kGy. • 1000 kGy dose expanded pore size to 8 nm and increased the specific surface area to 333 m 2 /g. • Modified mesoporous structure improved ion diffusion, yielding high capacities of 878.16 mg/g for Pb(II) and 181.69 mg/g for Cu(II). • Adsorption behaviour followed the Sips model, indicating a hybrid multilayer-to-monolayer transition on a heterogeneous surface. ETS-10 zeolite is known for its superior adsorption properties and high ion-exchange capacity, making it suitable for applications in adsorption. While the pristine ETS-10 framework possesses inherent acidic sites and a unique crystalline structure, its performance is often limited by its purely microporous nature. This study investigated the modification of ETS-10 using electron beam (EB) irradiation to enhance its capacity for removing Pb(II) and Cu(II) ions from aqueous solutions. Our results demonstrated that EB irradiation was a highly effective method for inducing a structural transition from microporous to mesoporous without compromising the structure of ETS-10 zeolite. Under EB irradiation dose of 1000 kGy, the specific surface area of ETS-10 increased to 333 m 2 /g, the pore size expanded to 8 nm, and the adsorption reached 878.16 mg/g for Pb(II) and 181.69 mg/g for Cu(II). The adsorption data for both pristine and irradiated samples were best described by the Sips isotherm model, suggesting a hybrid adsorption behaviour on a heterogeneous surface that transitions from multilayer at low concentrations to monolayer at higher concentrations. Treating titanosilicate ETS-10 with 1000 kGy electron beam (EB) irradiation significantly improved its cyclic reusability across five consecutive adsorption-desorption runs. These findings highlight the potential of EB irradiation as a powerful tool for tailoring the porosity of titanosilicate for advanced environmental remediation. Download: Download high-res image (127KB) Download: Download full-size image