Desalination, Vol.166, No.1-3, 363-369, 2004
Study of the retention phenomena of copper II by calcinated wheat by-products
The effect of certain physical parameters on retention of copper II by calcinated wheat by-products was studied. Other parameters that also have an effect were assessed macroscopically. The effect of pH was studied thoroughly and yielded interesting findings. At a final pH less than 6, precipitation of copper is excluded as an elimination process in the presence of the by-product. The retention process is very rapid at the beginning of the experiments, which is due to surface acid-base interactions (protonic exchange). The determination of the nature of the sites on the support material surface using Bohems' method at first and second a titration method showed an amphoteric nature of the surface material. The Bohems' method resulted in an acidic nature whereas the titration method indicated a basic nature of the surface sites.