Lead removal and recovery from battery wastewaters by natural zeolite clinoptilolite

Journal Article · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1999 · Solvent Extraction and Ion Exchange

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/07366299908934633· OSTI ID:343805

Petruzzelli, D; Pagano, M; Tiravanti, G ^[1]; Passino, R ^[2]

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1. National Research Council, Bari (Italy). Ist. di Ricerca sulle Acque
2. National Research Council, Rome (Italy). Ist. di Ricerca sulle Acque

Technical feasibility of an ion exchange process for removal and recovery of lead present in battery manufacturing wastewaters is demonstrated. In absence of aluminium and ferric species, lead is quantitatively removed and recovered ({approx}90%) from the neutralized wastewaters after elution on the natural zeolite clinoptilolite. Control of pH to 5.5--6 is necessary to minimize degradation of the exchanger material. Throughput volumes exceeding 2,700 bed volumes (BV) (flowrate: F{sub exh} = 10 BV/h) is obtained, when the initial Pb concentration is 4 mg/L, with the metal leakage steadily below the maximum allowable concentration (MAC < 0.2 mgPb/L) set by the EU for discharge in rivers, lakes, coastal seawater. Regeneration of the zeolite is carried out by controlled elution of limited amounts of 1M NaCl, pH 4.5 (40BV, F{sub reg} = 5 BV/h) to minimize in situ precipitation of metals and preserve the zeolite from degradation. From spent regeneration eluate /lead is recovered to the battery manufacturing operations. This latter operation is carried-out by precipitation in the form of hydroxycerussite (basic lead carbonate) or electrolysis as pure metal. In this way the environmental impact is minimized after waste disposal (no hazardous waste formation) and, at the same time, raw materials are recovered to the productive lines of origin (environmental protection and resource conservation). The exhausted mother liquors from lead precipitation operation are recycled to the subsequent zeolite regeneration step, after back-up of the initial regenerant concentration and solution pH.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 343805
• Journal Information: Solvent Extraction and Ion Exchange, Journal Name: Solvent Extraction and Ion Exchange Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 17; ISSN 0736-6299; ISSN SEIEDB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CLINOPTILOLITE
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ION EXCHANGE
LEAD
MATERIALS RECOVERY
REGENERATION
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
WASTE WATER
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
WATER TREATMENT