Simultaneous recovery of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Zn) from diluted solutions by electroextraction technique

Abstract

Cadmium is mainly used in galvanoplasty and stabilisation of plastic materials. It accumulates continuously in soils. The analysis of soil samples gave concrete evidence of increase of concentration of this element during the past centunary [1]. Furthermore Cd and Pb attack selectively the kidneys and the liver with enzymatic troubles. The work has enabaled to put into evidence the contribution of the presence of resin to the conventional electrodialysis process. The optimal conditions for the elimination of Cd++, Zn++ and Pb++ ions were determined. These included influence of resin, imposed current density, flow rate of the feeding solution (diluat), different supporting electrolytes used during the electroextraction (HNO3, HCl and H2SO4) and concentration of the solution to be treated [2-3-4]. Furthermore the competition between the electroextraction of the metallic cations Cd++, Zn++and Pb++ was investigated for different mixtures.

Keywords

• Electrodialysis
• heavy metals
• diluted solutions