Se. Ghazy et al., Removal of copper(II) from aqueous solutions by flotation using limestone fines as the sorbent and oleic acid as the surfactant, ADSORPT S T, 19(2), 2001, pp. 175-185
The removal of toxic copper(II) from aqueous solutions was investigated usi
ng limestone fines (LS), which are inexpensive and widespread over the glob
e, as the effective inorganic sorbent with oleic acid (HOL) as the surfacta
nt. The main parameters (i.e. initial solution pH, sorbent, surfactant and
copper concentrations, stirring times, temperature and presence of foreign
ions) influencing the sorption and flotation processes were examined. The r
esults obtained showed the removal of more than 98% Cu-II at pH 7. It was a
lso found that the addition of sodium and magnesium ions as activators enha
nced the efficiency of copper separation. The procedure was successfully ap
plied to recover copper spiked to some natural water samples. A mechanism f
or sorption and flotation is suggested.