Removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater by foam flotation

Author

Xue-Jun Tang, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

5-31-1990

Degree Name

Master of Science in Applied Chemistry - (M.S.)

Department

Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Environmental Science

First Advisor

George Y. Lei

Second Advisor

Richard Clyde Parker

Third Advisor

Barbara B. Kebbekus

Abstract

The foam flotation technique was used to remove Cr³⁺, Cr⁶⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, and Nz²⁺ from solution The simulated wastewater contained 20 - 50 ppm of each of these ions. Fe³⁺ is added into wastewater as coagulant to produce floc. These dissolved metal ions are adsorbed onto the floc and/or coprecipitate with them. The floc can be then removed from solution by foam flotation. Under optimal conditions, such as pH=6.3 - 7.4, Fe³⁺=160 ppm for hexavalent Chromium or 90 ppm for others and Lauryl Sulfate=90 ppm, removal efficiency of 100% for Cr⁶⁺, 99.6% for Cu²⁺, 99.5% for Ni²⁺, 99.7% for Co²⁺, and 99.7% for Zn²⁺ can be achieved respectively. Mixture of these ions can be removed simultaneously from wastewater by a single step of foam flotation. The results also indicate that polystyrene sulfonate, as polyelectrolyte, can also raise the rate of precipitate foam flotation and screens the effect of ionic strength causing by Na₂SO₄ which produces the poor efficiency of flotation.

Recommended Citation

Tang, Xue-Jun, "Removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater by foam flotation" (1990). Theses. 2967.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/2967