| Abstract: | Copper
adsorption on olivine supplied by the A/S Olivine Production Plant at Aheim in western
Norway was studied. The factors were evaluated which affect the uptake of copper. It is
shown that the equilibrium pH of aqueous solution has the greatest influence on copper
adsorption thanks to the competitive adsorption between proton and copper ions, and the
adsorption of copper to olivine increases rapidly with pH increasing from 4 to 6.
Moreover, initial copper concentration and olivine dose possess significant effect on
copper adsorption, for the adsorption rate of copper increases with olivine dose
increasing or initial copper concentration decreasing at the same pH. In addition, the
ionic strength effect on the adsorption was also investigated, but it owns little effect
on the adsorption process of copper due to the formation of inner sphere adsorption of
copper on olivine. The experimental data show that olivine has a high acid buffer capacity
and is an effective adsorbent for copper. |
