A new combined process for efficient removal of Cu(II) organic complexes from wastewater: Fe(III) displacement/UV degradation/alkaline precipitation. (15th December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xu, Zhe; Gao, Guandao; Pan, Bingcai; Zhang, Weiming; Lv, Lu
• Is Part Of: Water research. Volume 87(2015)
• Page Start: 378
• Page End: 384
• Publication Date: 2015-12-15
• Subjects: Combined process -- Copper complexes -- Ferric displacement -- Photooxidation decarboxylation -- Coprecipitation; Water -- Pollution -- Research -- Periodicals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2015.09.025
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0043-1354

Abstract

Abstract: Efficient removal of heavy metals complexed with organic ligands from water is still an important but challenging task now. Herein, a novel combined process, i.e., Fe(III)-displacement/UV degradation/alkaline precipitation (abbreviated as Fe(III)/UV/OH) was developed to remove copper–organic complexes from synthetic solution and real electroplating effluent, and other processes including alkaline precipitation, Fe(III)/OH, UV/OH were employed for comparison. By using the Fe(III)/UV/OH process, some typical Cu(II) complexes, such as Cu(II)–ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), Cu(II)–nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), Cu(II)–citrate, Cu(II)–tartrate, and Cu(II)–sorbate, each at 19.2 mg Cu/L initially, were efficiently removed from synthetic solution with the residual Cu below 1 mg/L. Simultaneously, 30–48% of total organic carbon was eliminated with exception of Cu(II)–sorbate. Comparatively, the efficiency of other processes was much lower than the Fe(III)/UV/OH process. With Cu(II)–citrate as the model complex, the optimal conditions for the combined process were obtained as: initial pH for Fe(III) displacement, 1.8–5.4; molar ratio of [Fe]/[Cu], 4:1; UV irradiation, 10 min; precipitation pH, 6.6–13. The mechanism responsible for the process involved the liberation of Cu(II) ions from organic complexes as a result of Fe(III) displacement, decarboxylation of Fe(III)-ligand complexes subjected to UV irradiation, and final coprecipitation of Cu(II) and Fe(II)/Fe(III) ions. Up to 338.1 mg/L of Cu(II) in the electroplating effluent could be efficiently removed by the process with the residual Cu(II) below 1 mg/L and the removal efficiency of ∼99.8%, whereas direct precipitation by using NaOH could only result in total Cu(II) removal of ∼8.6%. In addition, sunlight could take the place of UV to achieve similar removal efficiency with longer irradiation time (90 min). Graphical abstract: Highlights: A novel Fe/UV/OH process was proposed to treat Cu(II)–organic complexes. Fe displacement, UV decarboxylation and co-precipitation are responsible for Cu removal. Effect of the operational factors was optimized. The process applicability was demonstrated by using the real electroplating effluent.