OXIDIZED COPPER MINE TAILINGS AND ITS ADSORPTION ON PHOSPHATE FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION

The adsorption characteristics of oxidized copper mine tailings on phosphate from aqueous solution were investigated under different pH conditions in this paper. The results showed that Langmuir equation could well describe the adsorption isotherm of oxidized copper mine tailings on phosphate from aqueous solution. The main factors affecting adsorption processes included the specific surface area, contents of calcium and iron oxides in oxidized copper mine tailings, initial phosphate concentration in aqueous solution and pH, etc. The adsorption capacity increased with increasing in the contents of calcium and iron oxides in oxidized copper mine tailings and initial phosphate concentration in aqueous solution. And a decrease in pH value resulted in an increase in the adsorption capacity. Adsorption mechanism mainly is physical-and chemical adsorption.