Xiaopeng Ge

Polyacrolein-isonicotinic acid hydrazone and polyacrylic acid-thiohydrazide resins-synthesis and sorption properties for precious and base metals

This investigation carries on previous studies on polyacrolein-styrene resins. Further attempts were made to convert the reactive aldehyde groups of the polymeric support to functional acrolein-isonicotinic acid hydrazone (P-NHZ) or acrylic acid-thiohydrazide derivatives (P-THZD). The conditions of synthesis and the basic sorption and desorption properties of the polymers synthesized are described. For gold and platinum group metals the resins show differences in loading capacities, rates of simultaneous sorption in static conditions and efficiencies in column tests. The elution by thiourea solution was utilized to separate Au, Pd and Pt from an excess of base metals. The P-NHZ resin seems to be more advantageous than the sulfur containing P-THZD resin.

Effect of speciation transformation on the coagulation behavior of Al13 and Al13 aggregates

Flocculation of kaolin suspension with aluminium fractal polycations was investigated as a function of aluminium concentration and pH. Aluminium flocculants included Al(13) and Al(13) aggregates with OH/Al ratio of 2.6 and 2.8, respectively. The flocculation kinetics and floc size distribution were monitored by light scattering. The characterization of flocculants showed that the tridecatmer Al(13) and bridged [Al(13)](n) with out-sphere structure were the dominant species for all flocculants in a wide pH range. The coagulation results indicated that the pre and in situ-formed [Al(13)](n) play a key role in removing particles. With the increasing concentration of [Al(13)](n), coagulation mechanisms were transformed from charge-neutralization, electro-patch coagulation to bridge-aggregation. Moreover, sweep-flocculation was involved at higher dosage besides other three mechanisms when amorphous aluminium oxides formed. Hence, chemical interaction between particles and flocculants evolved from surface adsorption to surface precipitation for aluminium polycations by virtue of species transformation.