Prevention of metal loss and the necessity to ensure proper process
economy connected with the elimination of one of the stages
in the current technologies (bringing solution to the defined pH)
required thorough kinetic and static studies, choice of suitably
durable ion exchangers, checking their resistance to osmotic
shocks and examining separation selectivity for various metal ions
(Cu(II), Zn(lI) and Ni(II)). The kinetic and dynamic studies indicate
the possibility of applying the commercially available ion exchangers
in question for the removal of the above-mentioned heavy
metal ions from waste acidic streams. Combination of the results
obtained from static and dynamic studies for various operational
forms of Lewatit TP 207 and Lewatit TP 208 allows selection of
the systems satisfying the processes conducted on the commercialscale for heavy metals removal, taking into account their selectivity
and effectiveness. The medium basic anion exchanger Lewatit
MonoPlus MP 64 did not satisfy any of the above requirements.
The total capacities determined for the selected ion exchangers
indicate a significant effect of both waste water composition (different
concentrations of NaCI) and functional groups (iminodiacetate,
weakly basic) as well as functional group forms (H+, Na+ and
2Na+) on heavy metal ions removal. By choosing a proper functional
group form of the ion exchanger, metal ions sorption was
achieved in the whole range of NaCl concentration and pH.