Adsorption of Pb2+ on blast furnace sludge

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Abstract
An evaluation of the applicability of blast furnace sludge, generated during the purification of blast furnace gases, as an adsorbent to remove heavy metals from industrial effluents is presented. The influence of residence time and temperature on the adsorption efficiency of the sludge is studied for the particular case of Pb2+. The adsorption data, which fit the Langmuir equation well, show that the blast furnace sludge has a high adsorption capability, up to 80 mg Pb per g dried sludge at saturation. The order of magnitude of the adsorption enthalpy, calculated from the apparent equilibrium constant, indicates that the adsorption of Pb2+ on the sludge is of a physical nature. XPS and EDAX analysis suggest that the physical adsorption process partially occurs through ionic exchange between Pb2+ and other ions such as Ca2+. Techniques exist for the recovery of metallic iron and either metallic lead or lead oxide from the sludge. The rendering of sludge into pellets, followed by their controlled heating, allows not only the extraction of these metals, but also makes use of the coke within the sludge. These techniques are clearly interesting alternatives to the dumping of this toxic and hazardous waste.