Performance of a Zeolite-Filled Slow Filter for Dye Removal and Turbidity Reduction

Sultakhan S. Kunarbekova M. Khalkhabai B. Kakimov U. Kuldeyev E. Berndtsson R. Lee J. Azat S.
December 2025 Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)

Water (Switzerland)
2025 #17 Issue 24

Ever-increasing global water shortages necessitate more advanced and cost-effective water purification methods. Herein, a novel slow filtration system using natural raw zeolite is proposed as an alternative to traditional quartz sand as a filter medium. The system demonstrates excellent performance in reducing turbidity and removing methylene blue (MB). The natural zeolite-based filtration system (filter bed depth of 70 cm) completely adsorbed 30 ppm MB at a filtration velocity of 0.2 m/h, maintaining its performance up to 2 months. The highest adsorption capacity (q_max) for MB of natural zeolite was 8.32 mg/g for the 0.3 mm fraction and 13.84 mg/g for the 0.1 mm fraction. The slow filtration process demonstrated high turbidity removal efficiencies, achieving 98.53% with the natural zeolite filter and 98.97% with the quartz sand filter, indicating the effectiveness of both media in improving water quality. This study highlights the potential of the natural zeolite-based slow filtration system as a versatile and effective water treatment solution.

crystalline mineral , filtration , porous material , wastewater , water treatment , zeolite

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Laboratory of Engineering Profile, Satbayev University, 22 Satbaev Str., Almaty, 040000, Kazakhstan
Division of Water Resources Engineering, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, Lund, SE-22100, Sweden
Department of Global Smart City, School of Civil, Architectural Engineering, and Landscape Architecture, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, 16419, South Korea

Laboratory of Engineering Profile
Division of Water Resources Engineering
Department of Global Smart City

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