Pb(II) REMOVAL FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION USING ZERO-VALENT IRON AND NANO ZERO-VALENT IRON : COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

This research aim to remove the Pb(II) which is one of the poisonous heavy metal from wastewater by macro zero-valent Iron (mZVI) and nano zero-valent iron (nZVI). Batch experiments were performed to investigate the effect of Pb(II) concentration, mZVI and nZVI weight, pH of solution and reaction time on the removal efficiency of Pb(II) by Fe0 particles. The results showed that up to 98% removal efficiency of Pb(II) obtained by I gm of nZVI at time of 10 min and pH=5. Also, the maximum removal efficiency of Pb(II) was found to be 94% obtained at initial Lead concentration of 10 mg/L and 10 gm of mZVI after 120 min and pH=5. Removal efficiency was enhanced with increasing the weight of macro zero valent-iron and nano zero valent-iron and reaction time, but decreased with increasing of Lead concentration and pH for both nano and micro sized ZVI. Also, the column experiment for removal Pb(II) onto mZVI was used after fixing the best conditions for the removal which that obtained from batch experiments .It was found the removal efficiency using column to be 96% . The ability of nano ZVI to remove Pb(II) is due to a higher surface area and inherent activity.