Potential of Indonesian Natural Zeolite as an Adsorbent for Dye Removal from Textile Industry Wastewater— A Review

Abstract

The textile industry is a major contributor to wastewater pollution in Indonesia, mainly due to synthetic dyes that are toxic, persistent, and harmful to aquatic ecosystems. Indonesian natural zeolites, found in areas such as Bayah, Cikalong, Lampung, and Ende, are promising low-cost and environmentally friendly adsorbents for dye removal. This review discusses the use of Indonesian natural zeolites in textile wastewater treatment, with emphasis on their characteristics, activation and modification methods, and adsorption performance. Previous studies show that acid activation and surfactant modification can improve surface properties and increase dye adsorption capacity. The adsorption process is commonly described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm model, indicating chemisorption and monolayer adsorption behavior. Overall, Indonesian natural zeolites have strong potential for dye removal from textile wastewater. However, further studies using real wastewater and pilot-scale systems are needed to support practical application.