Application of Modified Nickel Slag Adsorbent on the Removal of Pb2+ and Cu2+ from Aqueous Solution

Al(OH)(3) modified nickel slag adsorbent was prepared by sintering technology. The structure of the sample was characterized by BET, XRD, IR, SEM and EDAX. The sample's adsorption performance of Pb2+ and Cu2+ from aqueous solution was studied. Results indicated that the adsorbent is a loose and porous mesoporous material. Its surface had mass aluminosilicate, high-activity gamma-Al2O3 and its pH ranges from 4 to 12 that all have negative charges. The BET surface of the adsorbent is 23.90 m(2)/g. Furthermore, its surface contains rich oxygenic functional groups, which could not only provide abundant adsorption sites for Pb2+ and Cu2+, but also improve the adsorption performance of Pb2+ and Cu2+ from waste water through the complexation of heavy metal ions. The best pH values selected in the adsorption of Pb2+ and Cu2+ are 6 and 5, respectively. With the increase of the initial concentration of simulated solution, the adsorption capacities of Pb2+ and Cu2+ gradually increased but the removal rates showed a downward trend. The competitive adsorption results of Pb2+ and Cu2+ showed that Pb2+ has better preferential adsorption than Cu2+.