Removal of cu(ll) from Aqueous Solution by Oil-Water Interfacial Emulsion Technique with Adsorbing Colloids

Experimental investigations on the removal of Cu(II) from an aqueous solution were carried out by an interfacial emulsion technique with an adsorbing colloid (Al(OH)₃, Fe(OH)₃). Cu(II) from the aqueous solution was segregated into a compact emulsion between water and a water-immiscible oil phase by an interfacial emulsion technique that uses the adsorptive power of the oil-water interface. Trimethylamine was effective as a surfactant for the removal of Cu(II), and the optimum pH for the removal of Cu(II) was found at 9.0 when using Fe(OH)₃ and at 10.0 when using Al(OH)₃ as an adsorbing colloid, respectively. The effects of pH, mixing time, initial surfactant concentration, initial Fe(III) concentration, and foreign ions (Na⁺, Ca^{2 +}, Cl^-, NO₃ ^-, HPO₄ ^2-) on the removal efficiency were investigated. The adsorption and separation mechanisms for the removal of Cu(II) by the interfacial emulsion technique of adsorbing colloids were observed.