Sorption and desorption of ions of rare-earth metals on clinoptilolite tuff

The article describes the processes of adsorption and desorption of rare-earth metals on clinoptilolite tuff. Zeolitic tuff capacity depends on the ionic radius of REE. Sorption isotherms and desorption curve of lanthanum ions are stepwise due to the presence of two types of exchange centers in clinoptilolite. The obtained results allow considering clinoptilolite tuff as a cheap and readily available sorbent of rare earth metals.