Abstract
The adsorption of copper(II) onto goethite was studied as a function of pH, total dissolved copper concentration, surface area of goethite, and ionic strength. The adsorption of copper was similar to that of other hydrolyzable metals. A tenfold increase in goethite surface area had a significant effect on the adsorption edge, but a tenfold increase in the ionic strength of the medium did not effect the adsorption edge. The distribution coefficients increase sharply with increase in pH and ranged from 10 to 60,000 ml/g over a range of two and half pH units, depending on the goethite surface area and copper concentration. A tenfold decrease in ionic strength as well as a tenfold increase in surface area of goethite did not have any effect on the magnitude of distribution coefficients. Distribution coefficients were used to calculate the number of protons released per mole of copper adsorbed during the adsorption process. The average number of protons released per mole of copper adsorbed was estimated to be 1.40 ± 0.10.
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