Affiliation(s)
1. Department of Chemistry, Dillard University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70131, USA
2. Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri PMB 1526, Imo State, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
Heavy metal contaminated water sources can cause serious health problems
for humans, animals, and plants. Heavy metals can lead to the decrease or loss
of liver, kidney, and brain function. Objective: The aim of this research is to examine the effect of charge
on adsorbents in the removal of metal cations. Study Design & Methods: Standard solutions of Ca, Cu, Pb, and Zn
with concentrations of 1,000 ppm were treated
with sodium carbonate and sodium phosphate with various charges. Then, the
solutions were placed on a shaker for 24 h, centrifuged, and the supernatant
was analyzed using ICP-AES (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission
Spectrometry). Results: The order of
average metal removal by sodium phosphates is: dibasic (99.3%) > monobasic
(96.5%) > tribasic (95.4%). The average metal removal by sodium carbonate
and bicarbonate is 98.5% and 96.4%
respectively. Conclusion: The
adsorbent removability depends on the relationship between the charge present
on the metal and the charge on the adsorbent. Thus, metal cations in this study
with a +2 charge had a greater affinity for the adsorbent with -2 charged
ligands, dibasic sodium phosphate and sodium carbonate.
KEYWORDS
Charge effect, environmental chemistry, ion exchange, metals,
solubility, contaminated water.
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