Single and Binary Adsorption of Arsenic and Lead onto Red Mud and Coal Waste

"Heavy metals contamination in aqueous systems can be found in a variety of industries, in particularly mining, metal processing, finishing and plating. Water containing more than 0.5 ppm heavy metal considered as a toxic due to harmful effects on health. The major techniques employed for heavy metal removal from industrial wastewaters include precipitation, reduction, ion-exchange, and adsorption. Adsorption is a heavy metal removal method for aqueous systems. As a common adsorbent, activated carbon has been used in treatment but it is ineffective on some elements. Thus, there has been a research for developing highly effective and selective adsorbents. In this study the adsorption of lead and arsenic ions on to coal waste and red mud waste was studied. The experimental parameters were determined as pH, equilibrium time and the initial concentrations, activation by heat treatment and the blend of adsorbents. According to their adsorption capabilities, red mud was found to adsorb lead and arsenic ion with high efficiency but coal waste did not adsorb arsenic ion. However the binary adsorptions of these ions were enhanced the adsorption efficiencies. In addition the blend of coal waste and red mud affected the adsorption efficiency. INTRODUCTION As a result of rapidly developing industry and excessive use of water resources, the need of clean water and wastewater management appear as a problem. Wastewater recycling activities and researches come to the fore for an effective use of wastewater. Recycling of wastewater, which contains heavy metals harmful to the environment and human, is a difficult process. Heavy metals are generally divided into three categories: toxic metals, precious metals, radionuclides. Wastewaters from various industries, containing heavy metals, are the main polluters of water and soil. Although their toxic structures, heavy metals are used extensively in industry as they have technological significance. Usually mining industry, metal industry and industrial organizations produce heavy metal containing wastewaters (Volesky 1990, Ting and Lawson 1991, Bishop 2002)."