Removal of Co(II) from aqueous solution by using hydroxyapatite

Herein, hydroxyapatite (HAP) was prepared by aqueous precipitation technique and was characterized by using FT-IR and XRD to determine its chemical functional groups and micro-structure. The removal of cobalt from aqueous solution to HAP was studied by batch technique as a function of various environmental parameters such as contact time, pH, ionic strength, foreign ions, fulvic acid (FA), and temperature under ambient conditions. The results indicated that the sorption of Co(II) on HAP was strongly dependent on pH and ionic strength. The presence of FA enhanced the sorption of Co(II) on HAP at low pH, whereas reduced Co(II) sorption on HAP at high pH. The Langmuir, Freundlich and D-R models were used to simulate the sorption isotherms at three different temperatures of 303.15, 323.15 and 343.15 K. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔH°, ΔS° and ΔG°) calculated from the temperature dependent sorption isotherms indicated that the sorption process of Co(II) on HAP was spontaneous and endothermic. The sorption of Co(II) was dominated by outer-sphere surface complexation and ion exchange at low pH, whereas inner-sphere surface complexation or surface precipitation was the main sorption mechanism at high pH values. The results suggest that the HAP is a suitable material in the preconcentration and solidification of Co(II) from large volumes of aqueous solutions.     

Electrodeposition of mercury on gold from very dilute mercury(II) solution

Flameless atomic absorption spectrometry (flameless a.a.s.) was applied to study the state of mercury deposited on a gold plate electrode from very dilute mercury(II) solution by controlled-potential electrolysis. A stable monolayer is formed on the gold electrode by the electrolysis at a potential about 200 mV more positive than the reversible Nernst potential for the reduction of mercury(II) to mercury(0). After the monolayer formation, bulk mercury is deposited on the monolayer at the reversible potential and an adatom layer is also found. The difference of activation free energies between the evaporation of mercury from the monolayer and that from bulk mercury corresponds to the underpotential shift for the electrodeposition of mercury on the gold electrode.     

Removal of Cd(II) and Pb(II) from aqueous solution by modified attapulgite clay

Three low-cost adsorbents (purified raw attapulgite (A-ATP), high-temperature-calcined attapulgite (T-ATP), and hydrothermal loading of MgO (MgO-ATP)) were prepared as adsorbents for the removal of Cd(II) and Pb(II). By evaluating the effect of the initial solution pH, contact time, initial solution concentration, temperature and coexistence of metal ions on Cd(II) and Pb(II) adsorption, the experimental results showed that MgO-ATP was successfully prepared by hydrothermal reaction and calcination as well as appearing to be a promising excellent adsorbent. At an initial pH of 5.0, A-ATP, T-ATP and MgO-ATP reached maximum adsorption amounts of 43.5, 53.9 and 127.6 mg/g for Pb(II) and 10.9, 11.2, and 25.3 mg/g for Cd(II) at 298 K, respectively. The Cd(II) adsorption on A-ATP was fitted by the Freundlich model, while the adsorption of Pb(II) and Cd(II) on T-ATP and MgO-ATP as well as Pb(II) adsorption on A-ATP agreed with the Langmuir model. All kinetic experimental data favored pseudo second-order model. The calculated thermodynamic parameters suggested that Pb(II) adsorption onto MgO-ATP was spontaneous and exothermic. When considering foreign metal ions, the three adsorbents all presented preferential adsorption for Pb (II). Chemical adsorption had a high contribution to the removal of Cd(II) and Pb(II) by modified attapulgite. In summary, the adsorption was greatly enhanced by the hydrothermal loading of MgO. It aimed to provide insights into the MgO-ATP, which could be able to efficiently remove Cd(II) and Pb(II) and serve as an economic and promising adsorbent for heavy metal-contaminated environmental remediation.     

Removal of cobalt(II) from aqueous solution by spent green tealeaves

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - The removal of Co2+ in aqueous solution by spent green tealeaves (SGTL) was studied in batch conditions. The bio-sorbent was characterized by the...     

Removal of Zn(II) from aqueous solution by natural halloysite nanotubes

Clay minerals have been widely used in wastewater disposal due to their strong sorption and complexation ability towards various environmental pollutants. In this study, the removal of Zn(II) from aqueous solution by natural halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) was studied as a function of various solution chemistry conditions such as contact time, pH, ionic strength, coexisting electrolyte ions and temperature under ambient conditions. The results indicated that the removal of Zn(II) by HNTs was strongly dependent on pH and ionic strength. Langmuir and Freundlich models were used to simulate the sorption isotherms of Zn(II) at three different temperatures of 293, 313 and 333 K. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔH ⁰, ΔS ⁰ and ΔG ⁰) calculated from the temperature dependent sorption isotherms indicated that the removal process of Zn(II) by HNTs was endothermic and spontaneous. At low pH, the removal of Zn(II) was dominated by outer-sphere surface complexation and/or cation exchange with Na⁺/H⁺ on HNT surfaces, whereas inner-sphere surface complexation was the main removal mechanism at high pH. From the experimental results, one can conclude that HNTs may have a good potentiality for the disposal of Zn(II)-bearing wastewaters.     

Semimicrodetermination of mercury(II) and zinc(II) by precipitation from homogeneous solution,using cation generation technique

An efficient semimicro gravimetric method for the determination of mercury(II) and zinc(II) is presented. Potassium thiocarbonate (PTC) has been used as a source of sulfide and thiocarbonate ions affording clean precipitation from homogeneous solution and allowing the direct weighing of the precipitate when dry. The use of EDTA, ammonium tartrate, and PTC for masking of adverse ions in alkaline medium has afforded an efficient analytical separation of Hg(II) and Zn(II). The mean relative error is less than 1% in these estimations.     

Electrodeposition of mercury on glassy carbon electrode from very dilute mercury(II) solution

Flameless atomic absorption sepctrometry (AAS) has been applied to the investigation of the electroreduction of mercury at the glassy carbon (GC) electrode in dilute mercury(II) solution. The atomic mercury which is produced by electrolysis is found both in the electrolyte solution and on the electrode. The evaporation experiment combined with the flameless AAS clearly shows that mercury(0) deposits on the GC electrode as metallic mercury and adatoms depending strongly on the concentration of mercury(II) in the solution. The monolayer formation and underpotential deposition cannot be observed in the mercury(II)/GC electrode system.     

Selective detection of mercury(II) and methylmercury(II) via coordination-induced emission of a small-molecule probe

Mercury is one of the major toxic pollutants and has many adverse effects on human health. The main mercury species in the environment or in living organisms are inorganic mercuric ion (Hg²⁺) and organic methylmercury (CH3Hg+). Detection of the two mercury ions is a particularly active topic in the molecular sensing field during the past decade. However, efficient sensors that can sensitively detect and discriminate the two species are rare. In this work, we adopt the concept of restriction of intramolecular rotations which is the basis of aggregation induced emission, and design a molecular probe with pyridyl group as the chelating unit and 1,8-naphthalimide as the fluorescent unit for the detection of both Hg²⁺ and CH₃Hg⁺. When the probe is free in solution, it exhibits weak fluorescence because free intramolecular rotations of the 1,8-naphthalimide moieties non-radiatively annihilate its excited state. However, upon coordination with Hg²⁺ or CH₃Hg⁺, the rotation of 1,8-naphthalimide moieties would be restricted due to the chelation between 1,8-naphthalimide and Hg²⁺ or CH₃Hg⁺, leading to significantly enhanced fluorescent emission. The response induced by Hg²⁺ is much stronger than CH₃Hg⁺; but for specific detection of CH₃Hg⁺, we introduced a T-rich DNA fragment which could completely mask Hg²⁺ in solution. Furthermore, we have employed the sensor for confocal imaging of Hg²⁺ and CH₃Hg⁺in immobilized cells. We expect the probe design tactics can be generally useful for sensing many other analytes.     

Removal of Pb(II) and malachite green from aqueous solution by modified cellulose

A low-cost, highly efficient and eco-friendly cellulose-based adsorbent (CMGT) was synthesized and used to uptake Pb(II) and malachite green (MG) from aqueous solutions. The CMGT was characterized by FTIR, SEM, TGA and XRD. Different experimental parameters were evaluated in batch adsorption experiments to determine the optimal adsorption conditions. The optimal pHs for Pb(II) and MG were 5.5 and 7.0, respectively; the optimal contact times for Pb(II) and MG were 60 and 180 min, respectively. Among the Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherm models, the Langmuir model fitted the adsorption data best for both Pb(II) and MG adsorption. In theory, the maximum adsorption capacities of Pb(II) and MG were 584.80 and 131.93 mg g^?1, respectively. The pseudo-second-order model fitted the experimental data very well, and the thermodynamics were also used to discuss the mechanism in depth. Additionally, desorption tests showed that CMGT could be effectively regenerated by 0.2 mol L^?1 HCl solution and could be reused for at least six cycles successively with a stable sorption ability in the dynamic adsorption process.     

Three-coordinate mercury in (2,2′-bipyridyl)methylmercury(II) nitrate and related complexes

Methylmercury(II) forms complexes [MeHgL]⁺ [NO₃]^? (L = bidentate ligand) having three-coordinate mercury; an X-ray crystal structure analysis shows that the complex with 2,2′-bipyridyl has a planar CHgN₂ group with unsymmetrically chelated 2,2′-bipyridyl.     

Removal of Cu(II), Cd(II) and Cr(III) ions from aqueous solution by dam silt

The removal of heavy metals, such as Cu(II), Cd(II) and Cr(III) from aqueous solution was studied using Chorfa silt material (Mascara, Algeria). The main constituents of silt sediment are quartz, calcite and mixture of clays. The experimental data were described using Freundlich, Langmuir, Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) and Langmuir–Freundlich models. The adsorbed amounts of chromium and copper ions were very high (95% and 94% of the total concentration of the metal ions), whereas cadmium ion was adsorbed in smaller (55%) amounts. The Langmuir–Freundlich isotherm model was the best to describe the experimental data. The maximum sorption capacity was found to be 26.30, 11.76 and 0.35 mg/g for Cr³⁺, Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺, respectively. The results of mean sorption energy, E (kJ/mol) calculated from D–R equation, confirmed that the adsorption of copper, chromium and cadmium on silt is physical in nature.     

Removal of cadmium(II) and zinc(II) metal ions from binary aqueous solution by rice husk ash

The present study reports the competitive adsorptive removal of cadmium (Cd(II)) and zinc (Zn(II)) ions from binary systems using rice husk ash (RHA), a waste obtained from the rice husk-fired furnaces, as an adsorbent. The initial pH (pH₀) affects significantly the capacity of RHA for adsorbing the metallic ions in the aqueous solution. The pH₀ ≈ 6.0 is found to be the optimum for the removal of Cd(II) and Zn(II) ions by RHA. The single ion equilibrium adsorption from the binary solution is better represented by the non-competitive Redlich–Peterson (R–P) and the Freundlich models than by Langmuir model in the initial metal concentration range of 10–100 mg/l. The adsorption of Zn(II) ion is more than that of Cd(II) ion, and this trend is in agreement with the single-component adsorption data. The equilibrium metal removal decreases with increasing concentrations of the other metal ion and the combined effect of Cd(II) and Zn(II) ions on RHA is generally found to be antagonistic. Non-modified Langmuir, modified Langmuir, extended-Langmuir, extended-Freundlich, Sheindorf–Rebuhn–Sheintuch (SRS), non-modified R–P and modified R–P adsorption models were tested to find the most appropriate competitive adsorption isotherm for the binary adsorption of Cd(II) and Zn(II) ions onto RHA by minimizing the Marquardt's percent standard deviation (MPSD) error function. The extended-Freundlich model satisfactorily represents the adsorption equilibrium data of Cd(II) and Zn(II) ions onto RHA.     

Removal of zinc and mercury ions from aqueous solution by hydrous ceric oxide

The present work deals with study of uptake behavior of zinc and mercury ions by hydrous ceric oxide applying a radiotracer technique. The influence of various parameters such as concentration, temperature and pH have been examined. It was observed that the amount of zinc and mercury ions adsorbed at equilibrium increases with increase of adsorptive concentration (1.0·10⁻⁷ to 1.0·10⁻²M), temperature (303–333K) and pH (ca. 3–10). Concentration dependence data agree well with the classical Freundlich isotherm. The radiation stability of hydrous ceric oxide was also investigated by exposing it to a 11.1 GBq (Ra−Be) source associated with γ-dose of 1.72 Gy·h⁻¹ and also using a⁶⁰Co source (4.66 kGy·h⁻¹). Adsorption of these metal ions in the presence of some monovalent and divalent cations and complexing agents has also been included in the study.     

The determination of penicillins by titrations with mercury(II) solution.

A simple technique, involving two titrations with mercury(II) solutions, is described for the determination of penicillins and their degradation products. The first titration, at pH 4–5 on an untreated penicillin solution, gives the amount of degradation products; the second titration, on a hydrolysed solution at the same pH, gives the sum of the degradation products and penicillin degraded during the hydrolysis. Enzymic hydrolysis is superior to alkaline hydrolysis for penicillinase-sensitive penicillins. Enzyme-resistant penicillins should be hydrolysed with alkali at optimum conditions, e.g. for cloxacillin at pH 13.5 for 5 min. A standard deviation of less than 0.5 % was obtained for the penicillins investigated. The method is absolute; calibration with standard penicillin is not necessary.     

Factors affecting the reactivity of thiol-functionalized mesoporous silica adsorbents toward mercury(II)

Numerous mercaptopropyl-functionalized silica spheres have been prepared by either post-synthesis grafting of MCM-41 and MCM-48 or self-assembly co-condensation of mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) or mercaptopropyltriethoxysilane (MPTES) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) precursors in hydroalcoholic medium in the presence of a cationic surfactant as templating agent and ammonia as catalyst. These materials of approximately the same particle size and morphology featured different functionalization levels, various degrees of structural order, and variable distribution of thiol groups in the mesopores. Their reactivity in solution has been studied using Hg(II) as model analyte. Total accessibility (on a 1:1 S:Hg stoichiometry basis) was demonstrated and quantified for well-ordered materials whereas less open and less organized structures with high degrees of functionalization were subject to less-than-complete loadings. Capacities measured at pH 2 were lower than at pH 4 because of distinct mercury-binding mechanisms. Kinetics associated to the uptake process were studied by in situ electrochemical monitoring of Hg(II) consumption from aqueous suspensions containing the various adsorbents. They indicate only little difference between materials of the MCM-41 and MCM-48 series at similar functionalization levels, fast mass transport in well-ordered mesostructures in comparison to the poorly or non-ordered ones (except at pH 2 where charge formation induced some restriction in materials characterized by long-range structural order), and even faster processes in the wormlike frameworks (characterized by shorter range structural order). Hg(II) binding to thiol-functionalized materials obtained by post-synthesis grafting was found to occur more rapidly in the early beginning of the uptake process as a result of a higher concentration of binding sites at the pore entrance in comparison to the more homogeneous distribution of these groups in the mesochannels of materials obtained by co-condensation.     

Removal of copper(II) from aqueous solution with rape stalk modified by citric acid

In this paper, rape stalk was modified with citric acid (CA) to prepare copper ion biosorbent. The modified rape stalk (MRS) was characterized by Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR), zeta potential, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The effects of various parameters like initial Cu²⁺ concentration, contact time, initial pH, and temperature on adsorption capacity were studied. The adsorption capacity of MRS at 298 K was 69.84 mg/g, far higher than 18.24 mg/g for native rape stalk (NRS). The adsorption mechanism was also evaluated in terms of kinetics and thermodynamics. The adsorption equilibrium data was well described by the Langmuir isotherm model. The adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order rate kinetics. Thermodynamic study showed spontaneous and endothermic nature of the adsorption process. The ion exchange of the adsorption mechanism was affirmed. MRS could be a potentially low-cost and green adsorbent for removal of Cu²⁺ from aqueous solution.     

A new procedure for the speciation of mercury in water based on the transformation of mercury (II) and methylmercury (II) into stable acetylides followed by HPLC analysis

Conversion of mercury(II) and methylmercury(II) species dissolved in water into di(phenylethynyl)mercury and methyl(phenylethynyl) mercury takes place in satisfactory yield under alkaline conditions by stirring the aqueous solution with phenylacetylene at room temperature. Mercury speciation is simply obtained by HPLC analysis of the two organometallic species. The presence of heavy metals such as copper(II), zinc(II), cadmium(II) and lead(II) in concentrations 10000 times higher than mercury is tolerated, while little interference is displayed by humic acids and cysteine. Seawater samples can also be analysed following a properly adapted procedure.     

Removal of lead(II) from aqueous solution with amino-functionalized nanoscale zero-valent iron

An effective adsorbent for removal of Pb(II) in aqueous solution was synthesized by reaction of nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS). The material was characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR) and a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). The amino-coated NZVI rapidly removed Pb(II) from aqueous solution and was easily separated by an external magnetic field. The Freundlich equation was used for investigating the adsorption process of APS-NZVI. Compared to untreated NZVI, the APS-coated NZVI exhibited stronger adsorption affinity and better adsorption performance. Therefore, APS-NZVI may be a suitable material for heavy metal remediation and has potential industrial applications.      

Removal of radiocesium from simulated alkaline salt loaded radwaste solution using potassium cobalt(II) hexacyanoferrate(II)

The inorganic sorbent potassium cobalt(II) hexacyanoferrate(II) was tested for removal of radiocesium from alkaline salt solutions that are typical of intermediate level radioactive wastes generated at spent fuel reprocessing plants in India. Excellent results were obtained both in batch equilibration and column operation.