A study has been made to predict multicomponent ion exchange equilibria data from the corresponding binary isotherms in zeolite NaA. Na/Sr/Cs and Na/Ca/Mg ternary isotherms are presented, together with isotherms for the six binary systems (Na/Sr, Na/C...
A study has been made to predict multicomponent ion exchange equilibria data from the corresponding binary isotherms in zeolite NaA. Na/Sr/Cs and Na/Ca/Mg ternary isotherms are presented, together with isotherms for the six binary systems (Na/Sr, Na/Cs, Sr/Cs, Na/Ca, Na/Mg and Ca/Mg systems). Predictive equations for these ternary systems could be solved iteratively using activity coefficients and thermodynamic equilibrium constants for the binary systems obtained from experimental data. The zeolite phase activity coefficients were obtained from the Wilson model. Na/Sr/Cs ternary system displayed high selectivity for Sr^(2+) ion and the presence of Sr^(2+) ion significantly influenced the relative selectivity of Na/Cs in this ternary system. Na/Ca/Mg ternary system showed high selectivity for Ca^(2+) ion and equilibrium of this system was not significantly affected by the introduction of a third ion. The prediction method was found to be in agreement with experimental data within 15-20% relative error.