Two different clay samples selected from two different areas of South Libya were processed and investigated through their chemical and mineralogical compositions using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The investigated clay samples were used to synthesize zeolite samples through chemical treatments using 4:1 sodium hexameta-phosphate : sodium bicarbonate mixture and fluxing at 600°C. The synthesized zeolite samples were investigated through their mineralogical compositions and microstructures using XRD and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques.

The produced zeolite samples are composed of a mixture of either NaP1zeolite:  and analcime:  (zeolite prepared from clay sample no. 1) or NaP1, analcime  and hydroxyl sodalite:  (zeolite prepared from clay sample no. 2).

On using the synthesized zeolites in softening a hardened water sample, they could decrease the calcium ions content from 96.72-97.33mg/L to 7.01-7.83mg/L and magnesium ions from 44.72-41.64mg/L to 5.39-5.18mg/L, i.e., to 7.24-8.04% and 12.04-12.43% of their original contents in the hardened water, respectively.