Dry-column Vacuum Chromatographic Removal of Hg2+ from Wastewater Based on an Acridino-crown Ether-modified Spherical Silica Gel Adsorbent

Authors

  • Panna Vezse
    Affiliation
    Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3., H-1111 Budapest, Hungary
  • János Attila Kalóczkai
    Affiliation
    Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3., H-1111 Budapest, Hungary
  • Dániel Ster
    Affiliation
    Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3., H-1111 Budapest, Hungary
  • László Bezúr
    Affiliation
    Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3., H-1111 Budapest, Hungary
  • Ádám Golcs
    Affiliation
    Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3., H-1111 Budapest, Hungary
  • Péter Huszthy
    Affiliation
    Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3., H-1111 Budapest, Hungary
  • Tünde Tóth
    Affiliation
    Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3., H-1111 Budapest, Hungary Institute for Energy Security and Environmental Safety, Centre for Energy Research, Konkoly-Thege Miklós út 29–33., H-1121 Budapest, Hungary
https://doi.org/10.3311/PPch.21563

Abstract

Dry-column vacuum chromatographic technique is introduced for remediation of wastewater for the first time. A previously prepared chemically modified silica gel containing covalently immobilized Hg2+-selective acridino-crown ether selector molecules was used as an adsorbent. Removal of Hg2+ from highly contaminated river water was carried out to study practical applicability. Adsorption capacity, preconcentration factor, pH-sensitivity and selectivity in separation were determined. The adsorbent proved to be outstanding in selectivity, only Ag+ and Cu2+ interfered among 29 cations, was inert toward organic contaminants, exhibited regenerability and pH-independency between 3.0 ≤ pH ≤ 7.0. The proposed method showed a moderate efficiency in both adsorption (32 mg Hg2+ / 1 g adsorbent) and preconcentration (preconcentration factor of 100). A maximum 10 L of wastewater / 1 g adsorbent ratio is recommended as an upper limit for applicability. The described method showed a unique robustness and simplicity compared to conventional ion-chromatographic methods and an improved selectivity over physical interaction- or simple functional group-based adsorptions.

Keywords:

mercury, wastewater, remediation, chromatography, molecular recognition

Citation data from Crossref and Scopus

Published Online

2023-05-23

How to Cite

Vezse, P., Kalóczkai, J. A., Ster, D., Bezúr, L., Golcs, Ádám, Huszthy, P. “Dry-column Vacuum Chromatographic Removal of Hg2+ from Wastewater Based on an Acridino-crown Ether-modified Spherical Silica Gel Adsorbent”, Periodica Polytechnica Chemical Engineering, 67(2), pp. 205–212, 2023. https://doi.org/10.3311/PPch.21563

Issue

Section

Articles