Investigation of Novel Adsorptive Separation Methods for Removal of Trace Heavy Metals from Polluted Areas

摘要

The removal of trace amounts of cadmium and zinc from wastewater samples from the Bunker Hill mine and from synthetic wastewaters was evaluated. The heavy metals were chelated with the surfactants sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium lauryl benzene sulfate, and cetyl pyridinium chloride. The chelated metals were then separated by the generation of a form with sparged air or dissolved air. As much as 95% of the metal entering the foam generation unit was removed and carried out with the foam. The foam constituted about 25% of the feed. The removal efficiency was correlated with feed flow rate and foam drainage height by means of a simple equilibrium model. Qualitative predictions based upon the model fit the experimental results, although quantitative agreement was not good. Recommendations for further experimental work are presented.