Chen, J. Paul, L. Wang. APPLICATION OF Ca-ALIGNATE BASED ION EXCHANGE RESIN IN LEAD, COPPER AND ZINC REMOVAL
Department of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge, Singapore, CA 129791, Singapore (paulchen@nus.edu.sg)
Application of a novel Ca-alginate-based ion exchange resin in the metal removal were investigated in this study. The removal increased from almost 0 to a higher value from pH 1.2 to 4 and a plateau was established at pH>4. Lower initial concentration and ionic strength slightly enhanced the removal percentage. The maximum metal removal capacities (qmax) were 2.01 and 2.04 mmol/g for lead and copper, respectively, much higher than other reported sorbents. Competitive effects were important for the zinc removal, but less significant for lead and copper uptake. The organic leaching from the resin was negligible. The single- and multiple-species metal ions were removed completely within 90 and 130 min. The lead removal became much faster at lower concentration and in the absence of other metals. Presence of the competitive metal significantly reduced the metal uptake rate. The removal process kinetics was modelled by a diffusion-control model.