Removal of mercury and other metals by carbonized wood powder from aqueoussolutions of their salts

Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) wood powder was carbonized at varying te mperatures and used as a material to remove heavy metals from their aqueous solutions. Single solutions of mercuric chloride and mixed aqueous solutio ns containing lead nitrate, arsenic chloride, and cadmium chloride as well as mercuric chloride (1, 5, and 10 ppm) were prepared to determine the effi ciency of removing heavy metals by these materials. Wood powder and carboni zed wood at 200 degrees, 600 degrees, and 1000 degrees C removed mercury wi thin the concentration range 1-10 ppm, mercury was preferentially removed e ven when mixed with other heavy metals. Wood powder carbonized at 1000 degr ees C achieved the best removal of heavy metals among the wood-based materi als and even commercial activated carbon in both single and mixed solutions .