REMOVAL OF COPPER FROM DILUTED AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS USING AN IMINODIACETIC ACID CHELATING ION-EXCHANGE RESIN IN A FIXED-BED COLUMN

In this study, the copper removal was investigated in a fixed-bed column using a iminodiacetic acid chelating ion exchange resin (Purolite S930Plus). The influence of the resin bed height (3-6 cm) over the removal process was evaluated at a flow rate of 5 mL/min and initial Cu(II) concentration of 0.8 mM. The obtained results were analysed by linear regression using the most common sorption kinetic models such as Yoon-Nelson, Adam-Bohart, and Clark. The experimental data were in good agreement with Yoon and Nelson model. Also, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were employed to study the morphologies and the composition of the resin surface before and after sorption. The column regeneration studies were performed using 3 N H2SO4 solution. The tested resin presented a good regeneration capacity and can be successfully used to remove copper ions from diluted wastewaters.