Calcium silicate sorbent from secondary waste ash: heavy metals-removal from acidic solutions.

The layer lattice, ion-exchange material, Al-substituted 11 A tobermorite, has been synthesised via an alkaline hydrothermal route from a secondary waste ash arising from newsprint recycling. The hydrogarnet, katoite (Ca3Al2SiO12H8), was also formed. Batch sorption analyses have confirmed that the Al-substituted 11 A tobermorite-bearing product is an effective sorbent for Co2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+ ions from acidified aqueous media. Kinetic sorption data were analysed in accordance with the pseudo-first- and pseudo-second-order models and steady state data were fitted to the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The Langmuir and pseudo-second-order models provided the most appropriate descriptions of the sorption processes. The maximum uptake capacities for Co2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+ at 20 degrees C were found to be 10.47, 2.92 and 3.09 mg g(-1), respectively, and the respective apparent pseudo-second-order rate constants were estimated to be 5.08 x 10(-3), 1.10 x 10(-3) and 1.13 x 10(-3) g mg(-1) min(-1).