Separation of Toxic Metal Ions Such as Pb(II), Cu(II) and Hg(II) from Industrial Waste Water Using Newly Synthesised tinzirconium molybdophosphate Cation Exchanger

A novel four component inorganic cation exchange material tinzirconium molybdophosphate with two cations and two anions has been synthesized. Chemical composition of the compound was determined by ICP-AES method and structural studies were carried out using TGA, XRD, and FT-IR, SEM. Bifunctional behaviour of the material has been indicated by its pH titration curves. The material shows high ion exchange capacity of 1.96 meqg-1. The distribution coefficient studies of metal ions on the material were performed in different solvent systems and the material was found to be selective for Pb(II), Cu(II) and Hg(II) ions. On the basis of distribution coefficient value, some analytically important binary separations of metal ion like Pb(II)-Co(II), Pb(II)-Ni(II), Pb(II)-Mg(II), Pb(II)-Hg(II), Cu(II)- Bi(III), Cu(II)-Zn(II), Cu(II)-Mg(II), Hg(II)-Zn(II), Hg(II)-Bi(III), Hg(II)-Mg(II) were achieved on tinzirconium molybdophosphate column. In order to demonstrate the practical utility of the material, quantitative separation of Pb(II), Cu(II) and Hg(II) from textile effluent, paper industry and wood industry have been achieved.