# Evaluation of Agricultural Soil-Improving Zeolite for Improving Irrigation Water Quality
###### Abstract  
With a progressively decreasing availability of water for irrigation, the utilization of lower agronomic quality water sources is becoming more prevalent. Compounds such as sodium and boron, due to their impact on crop development and production, are gaining significance in these water sources. Finding novel methods to immobilize these compounds in irrigation water is a top priority in the global agricultural sector. This study focused on exploring the potential of natural zeolite, commonly used as a soil improver and as a sorbent for sodium and boron in natural agricultural waters. The zeolite exhibited favorable properties, including a surface area of 40 m\({}^{2}\)/g and a cation-exchange capacity of 1.8 mg/g. Using a central composite factorial design, the zeolite's capacity to remove sodium and boron from irrigation water was investigated. The results demonstrated significant efficiency in boron removal, while sodium removal was limited, with occasional desorption episodes. Response surface analysis revealed optimal conditions for the removal of each cation. Additionally, adsorption kinetics and pH effects were explored, emphasizing the influence on sodium sorption. Kinetic models were applied, and the pseudo-first-order model proved suitable for describing the sorption kinetics. These findings enhance our understanding of zeolite efficacy in irrigation water purification, emphasizing the complexity of cation interactions in \"complex\" solutions. s +
Footnote †: journal: Applied sciences  
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Footnote 1: [[https://doi.org/10.3390/app14010418](https://doi.org/10.3390/app14010418)]([https://doi.org/10.3390/app14010418](https://doi.org/10.3390/app14010418))  
**Citation:** [PERSON] [PERSON]; [PERSON]; [PERSON] [PERSON]; [PERSON] [PERSON]; [PERSON]; [PERSON] [PERSON]. **Evaluation of Agricultural Soil-Improving Zeolite for Improving Irrigation Water Quality. **_Applid_  
**2024, 14**, 418. [[https://doi.org/10.3390/app14010418](https://doi.org/10.3390/app14010418)]([https://doi.org/10.3390/app14010418](https://doi.org/10.3390/app14010418))  
**1. Introduction**  
The discovery of natural zeolites has opened a significant chapter in the field of mineralogy, owing to their intriguing surface and structural properties that have been exploited in various sectors, including agriculture, industrial technology, livestock, cosmetics, and the biotechnological industry [1]. Zeolites form a large family of minerals and are among the most important in terms of microporous materials. The term \"zeolite\" refers to a polymorph of crystalline silica or aluminosilicate based on various tetrahedral TO\({}_{4}\) units that share corners (T = typically silicon and aluminum), forming a three-dimensional structure with regularly sized molecular dimension pores [1, 2]. More than 50 different species have been identified within this mineral group, with more yet to be discovered. Zeolites have been classified based on their morphological features, crystalline structure, chemical composition, effective pore diameter, natural occurrence, and other criteria [3, 4]. The Si/Al ratio is an important characteristic of zeolites. The charge imbalance resulting from the presence of aluminum in the zeolite structure determines the ionic exchange characteristics of zeolites and is expected to induce potential acidic sites. The Si/Al ratio is inversely proportional to the cation content but directly proportional to thermal stability [3]. Among natural zeolites, clinoptiolite [5] stands out, commonly used in agricultural practices as a soil amendment and to promote nitrogen retention in soils [1, 6, 7]. On the other hand, water is one of the essential substances for development, especially in arid and semi-arid regions of the world where renewable water resources are scarce [2]. Among the various sectors that consume freshwater, agricultural farms are considered the primary consumers, using more than two-thirds of renewable water resources in these activities [8].