Removal of metal contaminants by ion-exchange resin columns, Thala Valley tip, Casey Station, Antarctica

Abstract

Salinity and low temperature effects on adsorption of contaminant metals from water using an iminodiacetic acid (IDA) ion-exchange resin, were investigated under dynamic flow conditions. The order of selectivity of the resin (20°C and 0% seawater) was: Cu2+ > Pb2+ > Cr3+ > Ni2+ > Cd2+ > Zn2+. Low temperature (4°C) had no significant effect on the selectivity of the contaminant metals and salinity only affected selectivity for Cr3+ and Cu2+. Copper had highest selectivity in all column experiments, except where extensive deprotonation occured. Buffering affected retention of Cr3+; possibly due to precipitation or complexation as a result of increase in pH. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, ..