Removal and recovery of heavy metal ions in fixed and semi-fluidized beds

Uptakes of heavy metal ions such as Pb²⁺ and Ni²⁺ were studied experimentally in fixed and semifluidized beds packed with a strong cation exchange resin, Amberlite 200. Single and binary aqueous solutions of lead and nickel ions were passed through ion exchange columns, and the exit concentrations were measured to get the breakthrough behavior of the ions. From the exit concentration profiles, the breakthrough time and the ion exchange capacity were evaluated. After removal of heavy metal ions from binary solution of lead and nickel ions until the breakthrough time, two metal ions were recovered by precipitation and resolubilization of lead. In this paper, the recovery yield and separation efficiency are rigorously discussed.