Effect of pH on adsorption of copper, zinc, and cadmium from landfill leachate by clay minerals

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · J. Environ. Sci. Health, Part A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/10934527709374744· OSTI ID:5117595

Frost, R R; Griffin, R A

The removal (exchange-adsorption plus precipitation) of Cu, Zn, and Cd from a municipal landfill leachate by kaolinite and montmorillonite was found to be dependent upon the pH and the ionic strength of the leachate. Sorption increased with increasing pH values and with increasing concentration of heavy metals. Montmorillonite sorbed approximately five times more heavy metal from solution than kaolinite. Precipitation contributed significantly to removal of Cu, Zn, and Cd from leachate above pH 6. The removal versus pH data (pH range 2 to 8) were used to construct adsorption isotherms at several pH values. Leachate isotherms were constructed at pH 5.0 and compared with pure aqueous solution isotherms for the same pH. The amount of adsorption at pH 5.0 from leachate was significantly lower than that from pure nitrate salt solutions because of competition from the other cations present in the leachate. Migration of heavy-metal ions through clay materials is predicted to be much greater in landfill leachate than in comparable aqueous solutions of lower ionic strength.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Illinois, Urbana
• OSTI ID: 5117595
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Sci. Health, Part A; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Sci. Health, Part A; (United States) Vol. 12:4-5; ISSN JESED
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510100* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ADSORPTION
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM SILICATES
CADMIUM
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CLAYS
COPPER
DISSOLUTION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
INORGANIC ION EXCHANGERS
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
KAOLINITE
KINETICS
LEACHING
METALS
MINERALS
MONTMORILLONITE
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
PRECIPITATION
REACTION KINETICS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SOLUBILITY
SORPTION
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
ZINC