A cellular concrete material used for thorough cleaning of wastewater generated in electroplating process

Heavy metals are of special concern because of their toxicity and negative impact on living organisms. An active porous material for adsorption of heavy metals from aqueous solutions has been manufactured. The material is a sort of cellular concrete with some iron containing industrial dust as an additive. The dust is a result of cleaning of metal elements in the mining machinery production process. Several adsorbents were manufactured. For the adsorbents, the kinetics of batch process of removal of Cu, Zn, Cr and Ni ions from aqueous solutions has been investigated. Laboratory tests of the sorption material were promising. The process is quick; within several minutes the material uptakes over 70% of metal contained in the solution. A trial of continuous treatment of effluents from electroplating facility has been conducted in industry. The employed material demonstrated high cleaning ability firmly binding Cu, Zn, Cr and Ni ions. A sulfuric acid solution of pH value corresponding to the "acid rain'', leached only insignificant amounts of these metals.