CHARACTERIZATION OF SORPTION AND QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF HYDROXYL COMPLEXES OF CU AND ZN IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION: THE INTERACTIVE EFFECTS OF MINE WASTEWATER MIXED MINERAL SYSTEMS

International Journal of Recent Scientific Research
Vol. 4, Issue, 4, pp.469-475, April, 2013

CHARACTERIZATION OF SORPTION AND QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF HYDROXYL COMPLEXES OF CU AND ZN IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION: THE INTERACTIVE EFFECTS OF MINE WASTEWATERMIXED MINERAL SYSTEMS

*1Egirani, D.E., 2Andrews, J.E and 2Baker, A.R
1 Faculty of Science, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Nigeria
2 School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK

ABSTRACT

This study investigates sorption of Cu and Zn using mixed mineral systems to treat natural
mine wastewater obtained from disused mine workings at Parys Mountain and Cwmrheidol
in Wales, United Kingdom. Mixed mineral systems of kaolinite/montmorillonite,
kaolinite/goethite and montmorillonite/goethite were tested with the mine waste water for
sorption of Cu and Zn at variable pH. In addition, levels of saturation of hydroxyl
complexes were analyzed. Batch reactions conducted at room temperature (23±2oC)
revealed significant behavioral differences in Cu and Zn sorption by mixed mineral
systems compared to each other and compared to single mineral systems. All mixed
mineral systems sorbed more Cu than Zn when tested with Parys Mountain mine
wastewater. On the other hand, all mixed mineral systems sorbed more Zn than Cu when
tested with Cwmrheidol mine wastewater. This study conducted using single mineral
suspensions and 1:1 mixed mineral suspensions indicated progressive increase in saturation
indices with increase in pH. There was no evidence of stable hydroxylation of Cu and Zn
species that could significantly contribute to the sorption of these metals by mixed mineral
systems.

Key words: Wales, mixed mineral systems, hydroxyl complexes, Cu and Zn