Removal of copper ions from wastewater by multi stage flotation

Abstract EN

Removal of heavy metals from wastewater is of primary importance because they are not only causing contamination of water bodies but are also toxic to many life forms.

One potential application of ion flotation is to treat large volumes of dilute aqueous waste solutions contaminated by heavy metals ions.

Cupric ions have been removed from dilute aqueous solutions, in acidic conditions, using MULTI-STAGE LOOP FLOTATION (MSTLFLO) column.

The column consists of three stages of 70 cm long and 10 cm outside diameter.

The total height of the column is 2.25 m.

Three draft tubes are used inside the column each of 50 cm long.

The results indicated that MSTLFLO is an effective process for the removal of Cu+2 ions from aqueous solutions.

As high as 94% of the cupric ions were removed at air superficial velocity of 2.3 cm / s (equivalent to air rate of 50 l / min.) and 20ppm frother concentration in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as a collector.

An empirical correlation representing the relationship between the overall removal efficiency, the superficial air velocity and the concentration of the frother was proposed.