Title: Sorption of copper and zinc in metabasalt powder at different pH and contact times

Authors: Luana Dalacorte; Edson Campanhola Bortoluzzi

Addresses: University of Passo Fundo, BR 285, São José, Passo Fundo/RS, CEP: 99052-900, Brazil ' Laboratory of Land Use and Natural Resources, University of Passo Fundo, BR 285, São José, Passo Fundo/RS, CEP: 99052-900, Brazil

Abstract: Metabasalt powder has been suggested as an agent to fix metals. The present study aimed to test the metal sorption onto metabasalt powder at different pH conditions and contact times in order to define the optimal conditions to ad/desorb copper and zinc. A competitive assay was performed using 8,945 mg/kg of copper and 11,518 mg/kg of zinc. Copper adsorption was 40.8% and 99.1% of the total concentration at pH 4.0 and 7.0, respectively, while the amounts of adsorbed zinc were 58% and 68% of the total concentration at pH 6.0 and 7.0. The maximum copper and zinc desorption magnitudes from the metabasalt were observed at pH 6.4 and 7.0, respectively, but the amounts did not represent half of the total adsorbed. These findings allow choosing effective parameter levels when metabasalt is used as an absorbent agent.

Keywords: metabasalt; sorption; remediation agent; contaminated environments.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEE.2021.118464

International Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2021 Vol.11 No.2, pp.93 - 105

Received: 18 Feb 2020
Accepted: 19 Sep 2020

Published online: 26 Oct 2021 *

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