Comparative study of binding strengths of heavy metals with humic acid

Abstract

The complexation of humic acid with certain heavy metal ions (Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Pb(II)) was investigated. The stability constants of humate complexes were determined by method which is based on distribution of metal ions between solution and resin in the presence and the absence of ligand, known as Schubert’s ion exchange method. Experiments were performed at 25 ºC, at pH 4.0 and ionic strength of 0.01 mol dm-3. It was found that the 1:1 complexes were formed between metal ions and humic acid. Obtained results of the stability constants, log βmn, of complexes formed between the metal ions and humic acid follow the order Co(II) Zn(II) which is the same like in the Irving-Williams series for the binding strength of divalent metal ion complexes. Stability constant of complex between Pb(II) ions and humic acid is greater than stability constants of other investigated metal-humate complexes. The investigation of interaction between heavy metal ions and humics is important for the prediction of the distribution and control of the migration of heavy metals in natural environment. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III 41018]

Keywords

• heavy metal pollution
• humic acid
• stability constant