Kinetics of mercury extraction using oleic acid

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ie00023a057· OSTI ID:5508053

Larson, K A; Wiencek, J M ^[1]

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1. Rutgers, The State Univ. of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ (United States)

In the absence of halide ion, Hg[sup 2+] is the predominant species in water and can be effectively extracted using oleic acid. The organic phase complex that is formed is HgR[sub 2] [center dot] 2(RH). The presence of polar modifiers in the organic phase facilitates the formation of a complex dimer, [HgR[sub 2] [center dot] 2(RH)][sub 2]. Kinetics of the extraction reaction have been studied as a function of pH, Hg[sup 2+] concentration, oleic acid concentration, and mixing rate in a stirred cell reactor. Extraction kinetics are first order in mercury concentration and zero order with respect to oleic acid concentration and pH. This is consistent with film theory predictions for an instantaneous reaction that is mass transfer controlled. A diffusion/reaction model for mercury extraction in a batch stirred tank reactor has been developed that incorporates this information, and includes mass transfer of mercuric ion from the bulk solution to the droplet surface, equilibrium between aqueous mercury and organic mercury complex at the droplet interface, and diffusion and dimer formation of the complex within the organic phase droplet. Without the use of adjustable parameters, this model successfully predicts mercury extraction rate and equilibrium.

• OSTI ID: 5508053
• Journal Information: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research; (United States), Vol. 32:11; ISSN 0888-5885
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
MERCURY
EXTRACTION
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
COMPLEXES
DIFFUSION
DIMERS
EQUILIBRIUM
MASS TRANSFER
OLEIC ACID
PH VALUE
RIVERS
WASTE PROCESSING
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CONTROL
ELEMENTS
KINETICS
MANAGEMENT
METALS
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION CONTROL
PROCESSING
REACTION KINETICS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)