REMOVAL OF HG(II) FROM AQUEOUS-SOLUTION BY SORPTION ON POLYMERIZED SAW DUST

The ability of polymerised Saw dust to adsorb Hg(II) from water has, b een carried out. The per cent Hg(II) adsorbed increased with decrease in initial concentration of Hg(II), increase in adsorbent dosage and t emperature. Maximum accumulation was noted within 4 h and maximum remo val (94%) was recorded below 10 mg/L of Hg(II), The process follows a first order rate kinetics with diffusion controlled nature and the dat a fits the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Sorbent is effective for the quantitative removal of Hg(II) over the pH range 3.5-8.5. Adsorption r ate constants, and thermodynamic parameters were also presented to pre dict the nature of adsorption. Extraction studies confirmed that most Hg(II) could be released by exposure to 1 M HCl or chelating agent (0. 1 M EDTA).