Regularities of Sorption of Cations of Zinc and Copper by Natural Sorbent

Basic laws of static ion exchange of copper cation (II) zinc from aqueous caustic by natural mineral kaolinite were investigated. Quantitative characteristics of sorption process of copper ions and zinc were obtained. The sorption capacity of kaolinite was studied at temperatures of 298, 318, and 333K (mmol/g): for copper ions of 0.55 (at 298K) 0.60 (318K), 0.70 (333K), and for zinc ions of 0.38 (298K), 0.45 (318K), 0.53 (333K). The nature of interaction between the sorbate and sorbent is established. Balance of copper and zinc ions exchange on kaolinite by method of isotherms creation was investigated. It is established that isotherms belong to Lengmuir isotherms and according to BET classification they have the I type at copper ions sorption, and the IV type at zinc ions sorption. It is shown that the sorption parameter of interaction (K) characterizes the energy of interaction of copper ions with the sorbent.