CHARACTERIZATION AND EVALUATION OF LEVEXTREL EXTRACTION CHROMATOGRAPHIC RESINS FOR TRACE METAL SEPARATION SCHEMES IN AUTOMATIC WATER QUALITY CONTROL SYSTEMS.

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the results of the selective removal of Zn(II) from Cu(II), Cd(II), Ni(II) and Pb(II) using ‘Extraction Chromatographic Resins’ Lewatit TP80T84, which contains dK2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)pbosphinic acid as active component. The extraction and selectivity patterns of the resin were obtained from the metal distribution coefficients as a fiinction of pH. Experimental data of Pb(II), Ni(II) and other natural water occurring metal ions, such as Ca(II), were analyzed graphically and numerically in order to describe the metal extraction reactions. Analysis of the results showed that the extraction of these metal ions can be explained assuming the formation of metal complexes in the resin phase with a general composition ML2(_{q 3}HL)q, where q takes different values depending on the metal studied. Finally the efficiency of the resin in the selective removal of Zn(II) from the toxic heavy metal group Cu(T±), Cd(II), Ni(II) and Pb(II) were evaluated.of divalent metal ions (Zn(II), Cu(II), Cd(n), Ni(II), Pb(n)). Concerning the extraction selectivity of Lewatit TP80784 resins versus Zn(II), Cu(II)( Cd(n), Ca(n), Pb(n) and Ni(II), no differences have been found in comparison with the selectivity of this extractant in organic solvents (36). The results of the numerical treatment indicate that the extraction of Pb(n) and Ni(II) can be explained by assuming the formation of PbL₂(HL₂ and NiL₂(HL)₂. However, the extraction of Ca(II) can be explained assuming the formation of two species CaL₂ and Ca(NO₃)L|The analysis of the separation factors indicates that Lewatit TP80784 allows a quantitative separation of Zn(II) from Cd(II), Ni(II) and Pb(II) with ApHso greater that 2 and quasi-quantitative separations (90-95%) from Cu(II)|The results obtained in the extraction of Zn(IT), Cu(H), Cd(II), Ni(II), and Pb(n) from water samples in column experiments are very satisfactory, and the sytem will be used on-line in a multicomponent spectrophotometric method for the monitoring of low levels of toxic metal ions in surface waters.