Removal of Inorganic Mercury from Polluted Water Using Structured Nanoparticles
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 132, Issue 3
Abstract
This paper presents a process for the removal of inorganic mercury from aqueous solutions using alumina nanoparticles, which were prepared by the sol-gel method. Different amounts of mercury were added to the particles until a critical concentration was achieved, thus inducing the alumina sol flocculation. Particle growth was monitored during the process using dynamic light scattering. The amount of metal ion adsorbed on the surface of the alumina sols was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Initial mercury concentrations ranging between 50 and 100 ppm decreased to below 1 ppb in a short time.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo and Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Azcapotzalco. We also wish to thank Joseph Dortman for helping us with correction of this paper.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 132 • Issue 3 • March 2006
Pages: 342 - 349
Copyright
© 2006 ASCE.
History
Received: Sep 26, 2003
Accepted: Feb 8, 2005
Published online: Mar 1, 2006
Published in print: Mar 2006
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