Mn+2 and Cd+2 Removal from Industrial Wastewater Using Phillipsitic Tuff from Jabal Uniza, Southern Jordan

Southern Jordanian natural zeolitic tuffs outcropped in Uniza volcano have been investigated and tested for their heavy metals' removal capacity. The main species identified in Uniza natural zeolitic tuffs are: phillipsite and, subordinately, chabazite. The effects of particle size and stirring time were examined in the removal experiments. Two types of Uniza phillipsitic tuff were used in the removal of Mn+2 and Cd+2 from treated industrial wastewater. The first type is the reddish bulk sample (UZ1), while the second type is the separated size (UZ2) fraction between 1 and 0.3 mm. Batch and column tests were performed to determine the removal capacity of Mn+2 and Cd+2 from treated industrial wastewater. In batch experiments (static regime), the use of UZ2 type shows a higher removal percentage of Mn+2 and Cd+2 compared to UZ1 type for the same time. The results of column experiments indicate that toxic metal ions such as Mn+2 and Cd+2 can be removed with approximately 100% efficiency from industrial wastewater containing similar ions using Jordanian zeolitic tuff. In dynamic regime, by using UZ1 the manganese ions (Mn+2) were completely removed up to 57 BV (1.71 L) and the zeolite exhaustion took place after more than 112 BV (3.36 L), while by using UZ2 the manganese ions were completely removed up to 67 BV (2.01 L) and the zeolite exhaustion took place just around 114 BV (3.42 L). For an efficient cadmium ions removal, the use of UZ1 sample showed a complete removal up to 85 BV (2.55 L) and the zeolite exhaustion took place after more than 129 BV (3.87 L), while the use of UZ2 showed that the Cd+2 ions were completely removed after 151 BV (4.53 L) and the zeolite exhaustion took place after more than 205 BV (6.15 L)

Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Volcanology of Volcanic Tuff Rocks from Jabal Huliat Al-Gran, South of Jordan (New Occurrence)

Jabal Huliat Al-Gran (HG) volcano is one of several volcanic eruptions belonging to south Jordanian basaltic eruptions. Thick pyroclastic deposits of volcanic tuff layers alter slowly to complex mineralogical zonations in closed hydrological alkaline environments, and relatively pure deposits can be formed. Hydrological system and temperature are the principal controls over the zeolitization process. This process involves reactions between the vitric silicic volcanic glass and the percolating water in a closed hydrological system to form distinctive zeolite assemblages. Judging from field and experimental data, formation of phillipsite, chabazite and other secondary rock forming minerals probably took place by reaction of percolating water with vitric tuff units. The petrographical, mineralogical and geochemical investigations include thin section, XRD and SEM-EDX to determine the nature, geneses, along with mineralogical and geochemical properties of this new zeolitic occurrence. This work reveals the presence of zeolites in Huliat Al-Gran taffacious materials. Also, the results indicated that the volcanic tuff is highly altered to zeolites and other minerals. The main zeolites are phillipsite Ca-heulandite (mean Si/Al: 3.30) and chabazite Ca-clinoptilolite (mean Si/Al: 4.35). Zeolite minerals compose 10–60% of the whole volcanic tuff rocks. Thermal analysis indicates high stability for temperature difference. The deposit might be of great importance for Jordan, considering its enormous zeolitized outcrop area. However, the quantitative estimation still needs further investigation

Control of Odorants Emissions from Poultry Manure Using Jordanian Natural Zeolites

Natural zeolitic tuffs from Tall Juhira (southern Jordan) have been investigated and tested for their odor removal capacity. Two types of Tall Juhira zeolitic tuffs were used in the odor sorption from animal wastes. The first type is the separated size fraction between 1 and 0.7 mm (TJ1), while the second type is the separated size fraction between 0.7 and 0.3 mm (TJ2). The effect of particle size was examined in the removal experiments. The main species identified in Tall Juhira natural zeolitic tuffs are: chabazite and – subordinately- faujasite and phillipsite. Zeolitic tuff trap and batch tests were performed to determine the effectiveness of Tall Juhira zeolitic tuffs in the reduction of the odor emission from natural broiler manure. The results were interpreted by using percentage removal curves and diagrams. By using TJ1 in zeolitic trap experiments, the removal percentages of NH3 ranged from 93 to 71, while by using TJ2 the removal percentages ranged from 96 to 81. In batch experiments, the use of TJ2 type shows a higher percentage of NH3 retention than TJ1 type for the same time. The odor panel results show that the control manure (untreated) has the highest odor intensity in all trails. In summary, it can be concluded that odor emission from animal waste can be effectively reduced using Juhira zeolitic tuffs

Geological and Engineering Properties of Granite Rocks from Aqaba Area

Abstract Jordanian granitic rocks (JG) are highly distributed and available in huge quantities in south Jordan, Aqaba area. Granite in south Jordan (JG) is belonging to Aqaba granite complex. This study has been carried out to investigate geological and engineering properties of JG from Aqaba vicinity, south Jordan, in addition to identify and classify the different granitic rocks. 27 random samples of JG were collected from different quarries in three locations from the study area to investigate their characterization. Engineering properties of JG were tested and investigated using ultra sonic velocity test, abrasion test, flexural strength, specific gravity test, and compressive strength test. Engineering tests results show that JG has metal disk abrasion less than 21 mm, flexural strength of 16.9 Mpa, average dry specific gravity of 2.69 and very low absorption while the compressive strength results range between 60 to 90 Mpa. The results show that the engineering characterization of JG is complying with local and international specifications and standards used for classifying the decorative and building granite stones