SREL Reprint #1901

Nickel adsorption to hydrous ferric oxide in the presence of EDTA: Effects of component addition sequence

Amy L. Bryce1, William A. Kornicker1, Alan W. Eizerman1, and Sue B. Clark2

1Environmental Systems Engineering, L. G. Rich Environmental Research Laboratory,
Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634-0919
2Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, South Carolina 29802

Abstract: Nickel, EDTA, and hydrous ferric oxide were combined in different sequences to study the effect on equilibration. In this system, the fraction of nickel adsorbed to the hydrous ferric oxide depended on the component addition sequence, but the fraction of EDTA adsorbed did not. In one sequence, nickel and EDTA were combined to preform a NiEDTA2- complex. The complex had adsorption characteristics similar to EDTA with high adsorption at pH<7 and suppressed adsorption at pH>7. Equilibrium adsorption of the complex could be modeled using the diffuse layer model. When nickel or EDTA was individually equilibrated with HFO prior to the addition of EDTA or nickel, respectively, the system did not attain equilibrium. Rapid EDTA adsorption at pH<7 prevented the formation of the ternary Ni-EDTA surface complex. At pH>7, nickel adsorption was faster than the formation of the NiEDTA2- complex, but once adsorbed, nickel was slowly desorbed through the formation of solution NiEDTA2-.

SREL Reprint #1901

Bryce, A.L., W.A. Kornicker, A.W. Elzerman, and S.B. Clark. 1994. Nickel adsorption to hydrous ferric oxide in the presence of EDTA: Effects of component addition sequence. Environmental Science and Technology 28:2353-2359. 

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).