Adsorption Properties of Heavy Metal Ions in Water by Vermiculite

In this paper, the adsorption behavior and mechanism of Cu²⁺、Pb²⁺、Zn²⁺ and Mn²⁺ ions in the leachate of polymetallic sulfide tailings with vermiculite from Yuli Xinjiang, China were investigated. The results indicate that the adsorption capacities of vermiculite for Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺, Mn²⁺ ions are 49.53 mg/g, 108.00 mg/g, 44.11 mg/g, 32.47 mg/g, respectively, and the monolayer adsorption process follows the Langmuir isothermal adsorption model. The adsorption mechanism is due to a combined effect of interlayer ion exchange, surface static electricity and surface complexation. Vermiculite as a filler reaches the equilibrium concentration for 528 h, and the running time is longer under the dynamic adsorption condition. This work can provide a guidance for the design and optimization of vermiculite as an adsorbent for removal of heavy metal ions in groundwater.