The Effect of Interferences on the Uptake of Heavy Metals by Sodium (iron) Titanates from Waste Water

Abstract

Sodium hexatitanate, sodium trititanate, sodium nonatitanate, and a new iron doped sodium nonatitanate were synthesized. Common interferences present in waste waters that hinder the removal of heavy metals by these ion exchangers were investigated. The presence of K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ at 0.001-0.05 M concentration had minor effect on the amount of Pb2+, Cr3+, and Ni2+ uptake. EDTA on the other hand, interferes tremendously with the metal uptake. Both in ternary and in single system, the selectivity series is in the order: Pb2+>Cr3+>Ni2+. This order changed to Cr3+>Pb2+>Ni2+, in the presence of 0.001-0.1 M EDTA at pH 5.