Organically modified silica gel and flame atomic absorption spectrometry: employment for separation and preconcentration of nine trace heavy metals for their determination in natural aqueous systems

A 5-formyl-3-(1′-carboxyphenylazo) salicylic acid-bonded silica gel (FCPASASG) chelating adsorbent was synthesized according to a very simple and rapid one step reaction between aminopropyl silica gel (APSG) and 5-formyl-3-(1′-carboxyphenylazo) salicylic acid (FCPASA) and its adsorption characteristics were studied in details. Nine trace metals viz.: Cd(II), Zn(II), Fe(III), Cu(II), Pb(II), Mn(II), Cr(III), Co(II) and Ni(II) can be quantitatively adsorbed by the adsorbent from natural aqueous systems at pH 7.0–8.0. The adsorbed metal ions can be readily desorbed with 1 M HNO₃ or 0.05 M Na₂EDTA. The distribution coefficient, K_d and the percentage concentration of the investigated metal ions on the adsorbent at equilibrium, C_M,_eqm % (Recovery, R%) were studied as a function of experimental parameters. The logarithmic values of the distribution coefficient, logK_d, are 3.7–6.4. Some foreign ions caused little interference in the preconcentration and determination of the investigated nine metals by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS).The adsorption capacity of FCPASASG was 0.32–0.43 meq g⁻¹. C and N elemental analyses of the adsorbent (FCPASASG) allowed us to calculate a surface converge of 0.82 mmol g⁻¹. This value compares well with the best values reported for the azo compounds. The adsorbent and its formed metal chelates were characterized by IR (absorbance and/or reflectance) and UV spectrometry, potentiometric titrations and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA and DTG). The mode of chelation between the FCPASASG adsorbent and the investigated metal ions is proposed to be due to reaction of those metal ions with the salicylic and/or the carboxyphenylazo chelation centers of the FCPASASG adsorbent. Nanogram concentrations (0.07–0.14 ng ml⁻¹) of Cd(II), Zn(II), Fe(III), Pb(II), Cr(III), Mn(II), Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) can be determined reliably with a preconcentration factor of 100.     

Spectrophotometric and atomic absorption determination of Ni(II) in fresh and sea waters after preconcentration by flotation

A highly selective and sensitive procedure for flotation separation followed by spectrophotometric determination, confirmed by AAS, of Ni(II) traces is proposed. The maximum flotation separation (100%) is achieved at 25° C in the pH range of 1–3 using sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (as a collector) and oleic acid surfactant. The floated (1 : 2) colored complex is measured spectrophotometrically at 430 nm over a concentration range of 0.5–4.0 g/g with a molar absorptivity of 0.44 × 10⁴ L mol^–1 cm^–1. The procedure was successfully applied for the separation and determination of Ni(II) in fresh and sea waters.     

Removal of some radionuclides from contaminated solution using natural clay: bentonite

Clays and specially bentonite are widely used as natural adsorbents for wastewater treatment and as a barrier in landfills to prevent the contamination of subsoil and groundwater by leachates containing radioactive materials. The adsorption of four radionuclides, ¹³⁴Cs(I), ⁹⁰Sr(II), ¹³³Ba(II) and ¹⁵²Eu(III) by an Egyptian bentonite (Bent) and its modified Na⁺ form (Na-Bent) collected from a deposit within Alexandria governorate was investigated as a function of different parameters. The batch equilibrium technique was used and the kinetic results showed that the equilibrium was mostly reached within 10 min and the kinetic data fit well to the pseudo-second order model. The Langmuir model fits well the experimental data of all metals adsorption on Bent and Na-Bent except for adsorption of ¹³³Ba on Bent, while ¹⁵²Eu adsorption on Na-Bent fits better to the Freundlich model rather than to the Langmuir. Both Bent and Na-Bent fit well to the D-R model with adsorption energy of E > 8 kJ mol^?1 that means that the adsorption reaction is expected to be controlled by both cation exchange and surface complexation reactions. At lower concentrations, the values of distribution coefficient (K _d), follow the order of ¹⁵²Eu > ⁹⁰Sr > ¹³⁴Cs > ¹³³Ba for Bent and Na-Bent. The K _d of ¹⁵²Eu is higher than that of ¹³⁴Cs in Bent up to 150 mg L^?1. This order changes at higher concentration where the K _d of ¹³⁴Cs becomes higher than ¹⁵²Eu after 150 mg L^?1 for Bent and after 200 mg L^?1 for Na-Bent. Na-Bent is preferred than Bent for the uptake of ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁴Cs especially at high concentration.     

Remobilization of 60Co, 85Sr, 137Cs, 152Eu,and 241Am from a Contaminated Soil Column by Groundwater and Organic Ligands

Transport in Porous Media - The desorption rate of 60Co, 85Sr, 137Cs, 152Eu, and 241Am from soil collected from Inshas disposal site in Egypt was investigated to understand the desorption and...     

Factors affecting the sorption behavior of Cs<Superscript>+</Superscript> and Sr<Superscript>2+</Superscript> using biosorbent material

In this study, saw dust has been used as precursor for production of low cost activated carbon using potassium hydroxide (KOH) and steam activation technique. The activated carbon was used to remove Cs⁺ and Sr²⁺ ions from aqueous solutions by batch operation, and the extent of adsorption was investigated as a function of solution pH, temperature, shaking time, and initial concentration. The influence of interfering ions was also investigated. The removal of metal ions was pH dependent and the adsorption capacity reaches its maximum 43% and 61.5% at pH 5.0 and 6.0 for Cs⁺ and Sr²⁺ ions, respectively. Thermodynamic studies showed different behaviours where an endothermic, non-spontaneous process was shown for Cs⁺ while an exothermic, spontaneous process was obtained for Sr²⁺. The kinetic data of both ions was described well by pseudo-second order rate equation. The two equilibrium models (Langmuir and Freundlich) have been also applied. Desorption studies indicated that HCl was the most effective desorbing eluent. The investigated adsorbent showed good results towards cesium and strontium removal from aqueous media that could be a promising method due to its low-cost and good efficiency.     

Spectrophotometric and atomic absorption determination of Ni(II) in fresh and sea waters after preconcentration by flotation

A highly selective and sensitive procedure for flotation separation followed by spectrophotometric determination, confirmed by AAS, of Ni(II) traces is proposed. The maximum flotation separation (100%) is achieved at approximately 25 degrees C in the pH range of 1-3 using sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (as a collector) and oleic acid surfactant. The floated (1 : 2) colored complex is measured spectrophotometrically at 430 nm over a concentration range of 0.5-4.0 microg/g with a molar absorptivity of 0.44 x 10(4) L mol(-1) cm(-1). The procedure was successfully applied for the separation and determination of Ni(II) in fresh and sea waters.     

Chromatographic separation of certain metal ions using a bifunctional quaternary ammonium-sulfonate mixed bed ion-exchanger

The separation behaviour of Pb(2+), Cu(2+), Cd(2+), Co(2+), Zn(2+) and Ni(2+) on bifunctional quaternary ammonium-sulfonate mixed ion-exchangers (Dionex, IonPac CS5 and CG5) was studied using different eluents including solutions of oxalic acid, potassium oxalate, sodium oxalate and ammonium oxalate. Separated metal ions were followed by using 4-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol (PAR) as post-colouring complex. The retention factors of different ions proved to be dependent on the pH, concentration, nature of each complexing agent, and to less extent on eluent flow rate. The retention behaviour and separation mechanism of complexed metal analytes are discussed in the light of the stability of metal complexes and the ligand complexing ability of used eluent. Comparison between various mobile phases is evaluated, and both sodium and potassium oxalate can be used successfully for simultaneous separation of studied metals with good resolution within short elution periods. The method can be used in different applications including analysis of bottled water from different resources.     

Cloud point extraction and preconcentration of gold in geological matrices prior to flame atomic absorption determination

Brilliant green was used as a complexing agent in cloud point extraction (CPE) and applied for selective preconcentration of trace amounts of gold in geological matrices. The analyte in the initial aqueous solution was acidified with hydrochloric acid (0.1 M) and octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (Triton X-114) was added as a surfactant. After phase separation, based on the cloud point separation of the mixture, the surfactant rich phase was diluted with methanol and the analyte determined in the surfactant rich phase by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). After optimization of the complexation and extraction conditions, a preconcentration factor of 31 was obtained for only 10 mL of sample. The analytical curve was linear in the range of 3–1000 ng mL⁻¹ and the limit of detection was 1.5 ng mL⁻¹. The proposed method was applied to the determination of gold in geological samples.     

Silica gel modified with N-(3-propyl)-O-phenylenediamine: functionalization, metal sorption equilibrium studies and application to metal enrichment prior to determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry.

The use of the chemically modified silica gel N-(3-propyl)-O-phenylenediamine (SiG-NPPDA) adsorbent, for the preconcentration and separation of trace heavy metals, was described. SiG-NPPDA sorbs quantitatively (90-100% recovery) trace amounts of nine heavy metals, viz., Cd(II), Zn(II), Fe(III), Cu(II), Pb(II), Mn(II), Cr(III), Co(II) and Ni(II) at pH 7-8. The sorption capacity varies from 350 to 450 micromol g(-1). Desorption was found to be quantitative with 1-2 M HNO3 or 0.05 M Na2EDTA. The distribution coefficient, Kd and the percentage concentration of the investigated metal ions on the adsorbent at equilibrium, C(M,eqm)% (Recovery, R%), were studied as a function of experimental parameters. The logarithmic values of the distribution coefficient, log Kd, ranges between 4.0 and 6.4. Some foreign ions caused little interference in the preconcentration and determination of the investigated nine metals by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The adsorbent and its formed metal chelates were characterized by IR (absorbance and/or reflectance), potentiometric titrations and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA and DTG). The mode of chelation between the SiG-NPPDA adsorbent and the investigated metal ions is proposed to be due to the reaction of the investigated metal ions with the two nitrogen atoms of the SiG-NPPDA adsorbent. The present adsorbent coupled with flame AAS has been used to enrich and determine the nine metal ions in natural aqueous systems and in certified reference materials (RSD < or = 5%). The copper, iron, manganese and zinc present in some pharmaceutical vitamin samples were also preconcentrated on SiG-NPPDA adsorbent and determined by flame AAS (RSD < or = 4.2%). Nanogram concentrations (0.07-0.14 ng ml(-1)) of Cd(II), Zn(II), Fe(III), Pb(II), Cr(III), Mn(II), Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) can be determined reliably with a preconcentration factor of 100.     

Liquid–Liquid Extraction of Sulfuric Acid from Aqueous Sulfate Waste Solution using Alamine 336/Kerosene/TBP Solvent

Generally the metallurgical industries generate huge amounts of harmful environmental wastes, which may be solids, liquids, or gases in their nature. The present study aims to recovery sulfuric acid (227 g/l) from wastes generated during hydrometallurgical digestion of titanium ores with sulfuric acid for TiO₂ production. For this purpose Alamine 336/kerosene solvent was used. Various extraction parameters as Alamine 336 concentration, shaking time, type of diluent, and O/A phase ratio were studied and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, Mc-Cabe Thiele diagram results indicated that, after four extraction stages the acid concentration in aqueous phase was reduced from the initial value of 227 g/l to about 17 g/l. Stripping of the loaded sulfuric acid from the organic phase was done with warm water (60°C). Stripping parameters as water temperature, stripping time, and A/O phase ratio were studied. Under the stripping the loaded acid concentration in organic phase was reduced from 210 to 6 g/l which matched theoretically by McCabe Thiele diagram.