Sorption of heavy metal metatartrate complexes on polystyrene anion exchangers

The performance of polystyrene anion exchangers in purifying wastewaters containing metatartaric acid and heavy metal ions (especially those from electroless plating processes) was investigated. The following anion exchangers were selected: Lewatit MonoPlus M 500, Lewatit MonoPlus MP 64, Lewatit MP 62 and Amberlite IRA 402. A batch method was used to study the influence of: phase contact time (1-120 min); solution pH (2-9); concentration of initial heavy metal Cu(II), Zn(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes (1.25 x 10(-4) M to 8.0 x 10(-3) M); temperature (303-333K); and interfering ions (Cl-, NO3-, SO4(2-), Ca2+, Mg2+). The amounts of Cu(II), Zn(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes with metatartaric acid sorbed at equilibrium using the strongly basic anion exchanger Lewatit MonoPlus M 500 were equal to 7.25 mg/g, 3.21 mg/g, 3.78 mg/g and 3.98 mg/g, respectively. The equilibrium sorption capacity increased slightly with increasing temperature. The optimal pH sorption was found to be 6.5. The experimental data were analysed using the Langmuir and Freundlich models. The maximum adsorption capacities q(0) determined from the Langmuir adsorption equation equal to 7.53 mg/g, 3.75 mg/g, 3.55 mg/g and 4.60 mg/g were in good agreement with the experimental values for Lewatit MonoPlus M 500. The kinetic data obtained at different concentrations were modelled using pseudo first order, pseudo second order and intraparticle diffusion equations. The experimental data were well described by the pseudo second order kinetic model.