EFFECT OF MINERAL SYSTEMS ON COPPER AND ZINC REMOVAL FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION PART I

This study investigated the role of mineral systems in copper and zinc removal. Mineral systems of kaolinite, montmorillonite, goethite and their mixtures were interacted with copper and zinc ions using batch mode study at room temperature. This study was in relation to reactivity and removal kinetics involved in mineral-metal interaction as it relates to water bodies contaminated with copper and zinc ions. The results supported by empirical model revealed that copper and zinc removal were dependent on particle size (15-60 μm for kaolinite, montmorillonite and 25-100 μm for goethite). In addition, intra-particle diffusion was involved in the sorption process. Both copper and zinc removal involved inner sphere complexation and outer sphere complexation. The mass transfer rate of copper was reduced by mineral mixing. This was in relation to the single mineral systems in both slow and fast reaction phases. At the onset of adsorption, different reactive sites were involved.