Treatment of wastewater containing copper,zinc, nickel and cobalt using Duolite ES‐467

Duolite ES‐467 was used to treat wastewater containing heavy metal ions. Sorption experiments were carried out at varying pH values, agitation speeds, reaction times, and metal ion and sorbent concentrations. Each of the parameters affects the sorption behaviour of individual metal ions. Copper sorption was greater compared with other metal ions such as zinc, nickel and cobalt. The presence of other metal ions affects copper sorption. Equilibrium isotherm curves were developed. These were used to predict that the metal ion concentration would be reduced from 100 to less than 1 mg dm^?3. Fixed bed tests were conducted to investigate the efficiency of Duolite ES‐467 for the selective removal of copper ions from multi‐metal solutions. Breakthrough curves were obtained using Duolite ES‐467 for solutions containing copper, nickel and copper, zinc, nickel and cobalt. Elution studies were also carried out using sulfuric acid. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry