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Research on magnetic separation for complex nickel deep removal and magnetic seed recycling

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Abstract

This study investigated the deep removal of complex nickel from simulated wastewater using magnetic separation and magnetic seed recycling. Nano-magnetite (Fe3O4) was used as the magnetic seed. The flocculant applied was N,N-bis-(dithiocarboxy) ethanediamine (EDTC), a highly efficient heavy metal chelating agent included in dithiocarbamate (DTC). Important investigated parameters included hydraulic retention time, magnetic seed dosage, and magnetic field strength. The study also explored the magnetic flocculation mechanism involved in the reaction. The result indicated that the residual Ni concentration was reduced to less than 0.1 mg/L from the initial concentration of 50 mg/L under optimal conditions. Magnetic seed recovery reached 76.42% after a 3-h stirring period; recycled magnetic seeds were analyzed using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The zeta potential results illustrated that magnetic seeds firmly combined with flocs when the pH ranged from 6.5 to 7.5 due to the electrostatic attraction. When the pH was less than 7, magnetic seeds and EDTC were also combined due to electrostatic attraction. Particle size did affect microfloc size; it decreased microfloc size and increased floc volume through magnetic seed loading. The effective binding sites between flocs and magnetic seeds increased when adding the magnetic seeds. This led the majority of magnetic flocs to be integrated with the magnetic seeds, which served as a nucleus to enhance the flocculation property and ultimately improve the nickel complex removal rate.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (No. 2015A030308008), Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province (No. 2016A040403068), and Special Fund of Department of Environmental Protection of Guangdong Province (2016).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, People’s Republic of China

    Yiqin Qiu, Xiao Xiao, Ziwei Ye, Zhijie Guan, Shuiyu Sun, Jie Ren & Pingfan Yan

  2. Key Laboratory of Mining and Metallurgy Industry Heavy Metals Pollution Control and Vocational Education of Environmental Protection of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, 510006, People’s Republic of China

    Yiqin Qiu, Xiao Xiao, Ziwei Ye, Zhijie Guan, Shuiyu Sun, Jie Ren & Pingfan Yan

  3. Guangdong Polytechnic of Environmental Protection Engineering, Foshan, 528216, People’s Republic of China

    Shuiyu Sun

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  1. Yiqin Qiu
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  2. Xiao Xiao
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  4. Zhijie Guan
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  7. Pingfan Yan
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Correspondence to Shuiyu Sun.

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Responsible editor: Angeles Blanco

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Qiu, Y., Xiao, X., Ye, Z. et al. Research on magnetic separation for complex nickel deep removal and magnetic seed recycling. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 9294–9304 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8563-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8563-y

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