Equilibrium and Kinetic Studies of Cu(Ii) Removal from Aqueous Solutions Using a Kenyan Micaceous Mineral.

Copper (II) sorption on a Kenyan micaceous mineral (Mica-K) was studied in the batch mode. The effects of different experimental parameters such as; initial concentration, contact time, sorbent dose, pH, particle size, agitation speed, competition and temperature on the kinetics of copper removal were studied. The sorption pattern of copper onto Mica-K followed Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Thermodynamic parameters for copper sorption on Mica-K were also determined. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) analysis of metal ion-equilibrated Mica-K, demonstrated that copper, cadmium and Zinc containing nodules existed on the surface of Mica-K.

Removal of Cu(II) from Aqueous Solution Using a Micaceous Mineral of Kenyan Origin

A micaceous mineral (MicaM) available locally in Kenya was utilized as an inexpensive and effective adsorbent for the removal of Cu2+ ions from aqueous solution. The effects of contact time, pH, temperature, adsorbate and adsorbent concentrations, and the concentration of electrolyte on the removal of Cu2+ ions were studied. Maximum removal of Cu2+ ions occurred over the pH range 4.0–7.0. The adsorption of Cu2+ ions increased with an increase in the dose ratio of mineral to Cu2+ ion concentration and decreased with adsorbent particle size. Isotherm analysis of the adsorption data obtained at 25°C showed that the adsorption of Cu2+ ions on MicaM followed both the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The uptake of Cu2+ ions increased on increasing the pH of the solution from 1.5 to 7.0 as well as on increasing the temperature from 25°C to 60°C. An adsorption capacity of 0.850 g/g was achieved for MicaM towards the Cu2+ ion. This study has demonstrated that locally abundant micaceous mineral can be used as an effective adsorbent for the treatment of waters containing Cu2+ ions without any prior chemical pretreatment.

Observations on the formation of kaolinite in the St. Austell granite, Cornwall

Partial chemical and X-ray analyses of specimens taken serially from three different rock types from the St. Austell granite show that potash feldspar is hydrothermally altered to a micaceous mineral. Sodic plagioclase alters to mica, montmorillonite and kaolinite. Furthermore, in the latter case the micaceous mineral and montmorillonite are intermediate products between feldspar and kaolinite. It is believed that the level of H+ ion activity in the altering solutions controlled the removal of alkalis, Al2O3 and SiO2 so as to leave appropriate concentrations of these constituents to re-form as mica or montmorillonite. Further alteration of a similar kind produced kaolinite.