Separation of heavy metals, in particular uranium, from sea water by use of anchor groups of high selectivity

Summary 2-Hydroxophenyl-(2)-azonaphthol (Hyphan) shows high selectivity for heavy metals which is deduced from the distribution coefficients. Various exchangers containing Hyphan as anchor group are used in batch experiments for the separation of heavy metals from sea water. One gram of them is shaken with 200 ml of sea water successively. Thereby, 90–100% of Fe, Ni, Cu, Pb, Zn and U which are dissolved in sea water, are separated. The distribution coefficients for these elements are also found from these experiments to be > 10⁴ ml/g.

---

Abtrennung von Schwermetallen, insbesondere Uran, aus Meerwasser mit Hilfe von Ankergruppen hoher SelektivitätI. Diskontinuierliche Versuche

Zusammenfassung 2-Hydroxyphenyl-(2)-azonaphthol (Hyphan) hat eine hohe Selektivität für Schwermetalle, wie aus den Verteilungskoeffizienten hervorgeht. Verschiedene Austauscher mit Hyphan als Ankergruppe werden in diskontinuierlichen Versuchen für die Abtrennung von Schwermetallen aus Meerwasser eingesetzt. 1 g dieser Austauscher wird in aufeinanderfolgenden Experimenten mit jeweils 200 ml Meerwasser geschüttelt. Dabei werden 90–100% der im Meerwasser gelösten Mengen an Fe, Ni, Cu, Pb, Zn und U abgetrennt. Für die Verteilungskoeffizienten dieser Elemente folgen aus diesen Experimenten ebenfalls Werte von Kd>10⁴ ml/g.

     

Separation of uranium from other metals by partition chromatography

Uranium(VI) can be separated quantitatively from most other metal ions by partition chromatography on a silica-gel column. The column is treated with aqueous 6M nitric acid; after sorption of the sample, uranium(VI) is selectively and rapidly eluted by methyl isobutyl ketone. In addition to the separation of macro quantities of metal ions, the method has been used successfully for the isolation of trace amounts of metal ions from uranium(VI).     

Determination of some heavy metals in sea water by atomic absorption spectrophotometry

Summary Direct determination of trace metals in sea water by flame atomic absorption technique suffers from serious interferences caused by the high salt content. Separation of the metals from the matrix has been effected by chelation and extraction with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate and methyl-isobutyl-ketone. Besides a separation preconcentration and increased sensitivity is achieved with this extraction. Organic substances and metal-organic complexes are destroyed with UV-radiation before extraction is carried out. Flameless atomic absorption has been tried using the Heated Graphite Furnace combined with a) a selective volatilization procedure, b) removing of sodium from the samples using hydrated antimon pentoxide (HAP). Both methods were used to remove the interfering substances (mainly sodium salt). All the techniques have been compared by analysing the same sea water samples, some of which were also analysed by other laboratories.

---

Bestimmung einiger Schwermetalle in Meereswasser durch Atomabsorptions-Spektralphotometrie

Zusammenfassung Die direkte Bestimmung der Spurenmetalle in Meereswasser durch Flammen-Atomabsorption wird durch den hohen Salzgehalt behindert. Die Abtrennung der Metalle von der Matrix wurde durch Komplexierung und Extraktion mit Ammoniumpyrrolidindithiocarbamat und Methylisobutylketon erreicht, wodurch außerdem eine Anreicherung und Steigerung der Empfindlichkeit erzielt wird. Organische Substanzen und metallorganische Komplexe können durch UV-Bestrahlung vor der Extraktion zerstört werden. Die flammenlose Technik mit Hilfe des erhitzten Graphitrohres wurde in Kombination mit a) einer selektiven Verdampfungsmethode und b) der Entfernung des Natriums mit hydratisiertem Antimonpentoxid eingesetzt. Alle Verfahren wurden an Hand der gleichen Wasserproben verglichen. Tests wurden auch von anderen Laboratorien durchgeführt.

This work was made possible by substantial grants from International Atomic Energy Agencies (IAEA) and from the Royal Norwegian Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.     

Flotation of traces of heavy metals coprecipitated with aluminum hydroxide from water and sea water

Microgram quantities of heavy metals in 1-l samples of water and sea water are quantitatively coprecipitated with aluminum hydroxide at pH 9.5. The precipitate is floated with the aid of sodium oleate and small nitrogen bubbles, separated and dissolved in 2 M nitric acid, and the heavy metals are determined by atomic-absorption spectrometry. The method is rapid and applicable to 9 heavy metals at the low p.p.b. level.     

Determination of heavy metals in sea water and in marine organisms by graphite furnace AAS

Summary This paper is a plea for a reference material containing extremely low concentrations of Pb and Cd. A reasoning is given by a historical overview on the main topics of pollution research in relation to those metals. Emphasis has changed from toxicological tests (with high concentrations) over hot spots in the environment (certain organisms and organs, such as kidney and liver, showing significantly elevated concentrations) to mechanisms of transport and modelling. That development has been accompanied and promoted by methodological improvement. Those concentrations, which have to be determined with a sufficiently high precision are now in the lower background range. A proper standard material for such purpose could be fish muscle which, over and above, could be spiked, if necessary, for measurements in a higher concentration range.

---

Bestimmung von Schwermetallen in Meerwasser und marinen Organismen mit Hilfe der Graphitofen-AASXXII. Fischmuskel an Stelle von Leber und Algen als Referenzmaterial für Blei- und Cadmiumbestimmungen

---

Part XXI. Cadmium determination in coastal water samples from the German Bight (1985) Vom Wasser 64:53–68     

Separation of traces of heavy metals from an iron matrix by use of an emulsion liquid membrane

An emulsion liquid membrane method has been developed for separating traces of heavy metals from an iron matrix. A 1.0-mL volume of aqueous iron(III) solution (pH 2.0) was emulsified with a mixture of 0.6 mL toluene, 2.4 mL n -heptane, and 80 mg sorbitan monooleate (Span-80). The resulting water-in-oil type emulsion was gradually injected into 25 mL of 1.5 mol L^–1 hydrochloric acid solution containing 30 mmol L^–1 8-quinolinol and 1.0 mol L^–1 of ammonium sulfate and was dispersed as numerous tiny globules by stirring for 40 min. More than 90% of the iron(III) diffused through the oil layer to the external hydrochloric acid solution with the aid of complexation with 8-quinolinol, whereas trace heavy metals, e.g. Cr(III), Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Pb(II), remained quantitatively in the internal aqueous phase. After collecting the dispersed emulsion globules, they were demulsified and trace metals in the segregated aqueous phase were determined by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Owing to sufficient removal of the iron matrix trace metal impurities in high-purity iron were successfully determined without interference, as was confirmed by analysis of certified reference materials.     

Determination of heavy metals in sea water and in marine organisms by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry

Summary This paper presents results of an intercalibration of cadmium determination by means of flameless AAS in biological materials from toxicological experiments. Furthermore, the philosophy of this kind of investigation is discussed in some detail. The goal and the result of this investigation was a correspondence of the measurement results within an acceptable range. Contamination during further handling has been identified as the main reason for severe deviations. The authors made measurements in the labs of several colleagues. The equipment itself did not produce individual variations. Repeated intercomparison after elimination of identified systematic errors showed sufficient correspondence of the results.Teil XII: Fresenius Z. Anal. Chem.301, 294–299 (1980)     

Separation and recovery of heavy metals from hydrometallurgical effluents by solvent extraction

Summary The possibility of separating and recovering heavy metals from hydrometallurgical effluents by successive solvent extractions has been investigated by two different procedures with liquid waste from the Espindesa Zinc process. The waste (pH value near to 1.5) includes significant amounts of Zn (1.35), Cu (0.12), Co (0.32) and Mn (0.6 g/l) in the presence of big concentrations of macro-constituents (sulphate, chloride, Na) and Fe [8.8 g/l, mostly as Fe(II) salts]. As extractants, Amberlite La-2 (a secondary ammine, as chlorohydrate) and DEHPA (di-2-ethylhexyl-phosphoric acid) at 25% volume in kerosene were selected. The first method includes two extraction stages with LA-2 for Zn and Cu separation (the last one with 60 g/l of chloride ions) and three stages with DEHPA at pH values near to 1.5, 2.0 and 3.5 for isolating Fe, Mn and Co. The second method separates firstly Fe (as ferric salts) with DEHPA. Afterwards, one stage with LA-2 isolates Zn and three stages with DEHPA at pH values near to 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5 lead to fractions rich in Mn, Cu and Co. Reextractions from organic layers with water or HCl at different concentrations lead to purer solutions of the isolated metals. With both methods, the liquid waste can be converted into a saline solution with lesser problems for disposal.     

Determination of heavy metals in sea water and in marine organisms by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry

Summary This publication is a part of a series in which the author describes a set of methods for the determination of cadmium in environmental samples by means of flameless AAS. Common properties of these methods are their miniaturization and standardization. These have been attained by the utmost reduction of the number of steps and by their simplification. The method described in this publication consists of an acid digestion procedure followed by neutralization, extraction, and flameless AAS measurement. The main characteristics are: digestion takes place in small 1.5 ml tubes of quartz, polyvinyldifluoride or polypropylene. Neutralization is not performed by titration but only by an excess of saturated NaHCO₃ solution. Extraction results are independent of pH in the region to be expected. Extraction is carried out by a (stable) solution of APDC in CCl₄. The organic extract is also stable for at least 16h. Precision of the method lies in the range of 8.4%, at a concentration of 18.9 ng Cd g^–1; sensitivity is at least in the range of 1.2 ng Cd g^–1. The latter can be increased, if necessary, by a several-step extraction procedure.Teil VIII: Z. Lebensm.-Unters. Forsch. 168, 193-194 (1979)     

Determination of heavy metals in sea water and in marine organisms by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry

Summary An ultraquick light-beam oscillograph has been used to track the growing and destruction of the atomic cloud in a graphite tube atomizer. In view of the results obtained it was stated that the analytical signal is mainly determined by the stepwise growing of the atomic cloud and its simultaneous destruction by thermal expansion of the inert gas from the tube. Thermodiffusion and recondensation seem to be much slower processes. The dependence of the analytical signal on the settings of the atomizer or the presence of matrix components and on thermal ballast like the L'vov platform is discussed in view of the above thesis. Finally, some proposals are made to overcome the matrix effects by separating the atomization process from the heating and thermal expansion of the surrounding inert gas. For this purpose atomizers with two separate electric current circuits are recommended.

---

Bestimmung von Schwermetallen im Meerwasser und in marinen Organismen durch flammenlose AtomabsorptionsspektralphotometrieXV. Matrixeffekte in Graphitrohr-Atomisatoren und Wege zu ihrer Überwindung

Zusammenfassung Ein schneller Lichtpunktschreiber wurde eingesetzt, um das Entstehen und den Abbau der Atomwolke in einem Graphitrohr-Atomisator zu verfolgen. Aufgrund der erhaltenen Ergebnisse wird geschlossen, daß das analytische Signal im wesentlichen durch das allmähliche Wachsen der Atomwolke und deren gleichzeitigen Abbau infolge thermischer Ausdehnung des Inertgases im Rohr bestimmt wird. Thermodiffusion und Rekondensation verlaufen offenbar langsamer. Die Abhängigkeit des analytischen Signals von den Geräteeinstellungen, von der Gegenwart bestimmter Matrixkomponenten und von thermischem Ballast wie der L'vov-Plattform wird im Lichte der o.a. These diskutiert. Schließlich werden einige Wege zur Behebung der Matrixabhängigkeit vorgeschlagen. Sie zielen auf eine möglichst weitgehende Trennung der eigentlichen Atomisierung vom Erhitzen und Sichausdehnen des umgebenen Inertgases. Hierzu werden Atomisatoren mit zwei getrennten elektrischen Heizkreisen vorgeschlagen.

---

---

XIV. Mitt. Fresenius Z Anal Chem (1982) 310:254–256

---

Presented at the Colloquium Spurenanalytik, Konstanz, 7.–9.4. 1981     

Separation of rhenium from molybdenum and other heavy metals by solvent extraction

Summary Two methods are presented for the extractive separation of rhenium from molybdenum and other heavy metals in hydrochloric acid solution. In the first method, Mo(VI) and Re(VII) are reduced by hydrazine in strong hydrochloric acid solution to Mo(V) and Re(IV). The former is then extracted intoiso-amyl acetate. The Re(IV) remaining in the aqueous phase is oxidised to Re(VII) and determined by known procedures. In the second method, Re(VII) and other ions in 1–1.3N HCl are boiled with hydrazine sulphate for 5 minutes. After adding EDTA to complex Mo(V) and adjusting the solution to 0.33N HCl, rhenium is extracted into chloroform containing 1% tribenzylamine, and is recovered by shaking with water having sufficient ammonia to neutralise the acid and a little hydrogen peroxide.

---

Zusammenfassung Zwei Arbeitsweisen für die extraktive Trennung des Rheniums von Molybdän und anderen Schwermetallen in salzsaurer Lösung wurden angegeben. Bei dem ersten Verfahren werden Mo(VI) und Re(VII) mit Hydrazin in stark salzsaurer Lösung zu Mo(V) und Re(IV) reduziert. Ersteres wird dann mit Isoamylacetat extrahiert. Re(IV) verbleibt in der wäßrigen Phase, wird zu Re(VII) oxydiert und auf bekannte Art bestimmt. Beim zweiten Verfahren werden Re(VII) und die anderen Ionen in 1- bis 1,3-n Salzsäure 5 Minuten mit Hydrazinsulfat gekocht. Nachdem man ÄDTA zur Komplexierung des Mo(V) zugesetzt und die Lösung auf 0,33-n an Salzsäure eingestellt hat, wird Rhenium mit einer 1%igen Lösung von Tribenzylamin in Chloroform extrahiert. Die Rückextraktion erfolgt mit Wasser, worin Ammoniak (zur Neutralisation der Säure) und etwas Wasserstoffperoxid gelöst sind.

     

Determination of heavy metals in sea water and in marine organisms by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry

Summary In natural waters, heavy metals such as Cd may be present in bound form. It is, therefore, important to consider chemical speciation, especially at low concentrations of the metal where a significant part can be bound by other trace constituents so tightly that it escapes several forms of its determination. It has been demonstrated that even the very strong complexant APDC is unable to leach out all of the heavy metal present in several coastal water samples from the German Bight.This paper describes a new micro method for the determination of total Cd in natural waters. First a small sample is dried in a polypropylene vial. Then the salt residue is heated to 90° C with a mixture of sulphuric and nitric acid for digestion of organic trace constituents (and oxidation of sulphides if present). After dilution subsamples are neutralized using an excess of NaHCO₃ buffer solution. Extraction results are then independent from the possible slight variations of pH. The extractant, a solution of APDC in CCl₄ is stable for weeks, and even the extract is stable for at least 16h. Precision is in the range of 7% at a concentration of 0.066 g Cd l^–1; the detection limit is below 0.002 g l^–1 and can be lowered, if necessary, by enlargement of the original sample. According to the sensitivity of the method the typical blank of 0.022 g Cd l^–1 is high, but it is rather constant (mean variation from the mean: 0.0024 g l^–1).Teil XI: Fresenius Z. Anal. Chem. 299, 206–207 (1979)     

The mechanisms of removal of heavy metals from water by ionizing radiation

The removal of heavy metal ions from water using electron beam and gamma irradiation has been investigated for the cases of Pb²⁺ and Hg²⁺ ions. These metal ions are reduced by hydrated electrons and hydrogen atoms to lower or zero valence state and eventually precipitate out of solution. Ethanol is applied as a relatively non-toxic additive to scavenge ^·OH radicals, to enhance reduction and inhibit oxidation. Mercury can be completely (>99.9%) removed from aqueous solution of 1×10⁻³ mol L⁻¹ mercury (II) chloride by using a 3 kGy dose. However, a 40 kGy dose is required to remove 96% of lead ions from a 1×10⁻³ mol L⁻¹ of PbCl₂ solution. The effect of dissolved oxygen and carbonate were also investigated. E-beam irradiation of 1×10⁻³ mol L⁻¹ lead ions complexed with ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) in deoxygenated as well as air-saturated solutions in the absence of ethanol resulted in removal of about 97% of the lead.     

Denitrification and removal of heavy metals from waste water by immobilized microorganisms

Pseudomonas fluorescens, immobilized on soft polyvinyl chloride granules containing up to 35% softeners as carbon source, was used for simultaneous removal of nitrate and heavy metals. In typical continuous column operation, a 100 mg/L nitrate input solution was reduced to a 20 mg/L output at a feeding rate of 1500 mL/h, with a capacity of 14 kg/day/m³, and with an efficiency of 79%. In the same column, Pb(NO₃)₂ concentration was reduced from 1.0 to 0.05−0.1 mg/L and ZnSO₄ concentration was reduced from 10 to 5 mg/L.Pseudomonas aeruginosa immobilized on an O₂ plasma-treated melt blown polypropylene web was used for removing 95% of a 1.7 nCi PuCl₄ activity from a nuclear plant waste water in a batch operation.