Laboratory study on the use of natural zeolite from Gunungkidul, Indonesia for Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd immobilization in soil

Department of Geological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: wbudianta@ugm.ac.id

Abstract

An experiment of the immobilization of heavy metals Pb, Cu, Zn, and Cd in contaminated soil by using the natural zeolite was performed in the laboratory. The natural zeolite was obtained from Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Artificially contaminated levels on 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg were prepared and then mixed with three different dosages of 5%, 10% and 20% of the natural zeolite. The result revealed that the addition of natural zeolite effect on reducing the heavy metal in the contaminated soil. The addition 5% dosage of the natural zeolite was sufficient to reduce the concentration of Pb, Cu and Zn from 500 mg/kg to the maximum permissible of concentration level. Finally, the natural zeolite immobilized the heavy metals in the contaminated soil by following in order: Pb²⁺>Cu²⁺>Zn²⁺>Cd²⁺.