The Effect of Red Mud Treatment Method on the Sorption of Copper(II) Ions

The effect of alumina production red mud treatment with mineral acids and carbon dioxide has been examined to increase the sorption capacity with respect to copper(II) ions from acid aqueous solutions. The sorption and desorption processes of copper ions were studied, and the sorption properties of initial and modified muds were compared. The efficiency of removal of copper(II) ions from industrial contaminated water is due to the circumstance that such processes as ion exchange, dissolution of mud components, hydrolysis and coprecipitation take place simultaneously. It is shown that the use of red muds in the framework of development of technologies for utilization and neutralization of technogenic wastes holds promise.