THE REMOVAL OF HEAVY METALS, ESPECIALLY LEAD, FROM AQUEOUS SYSTEMS CONTAINING COMPETING IONS UTILIZING AMOPHOUS TIN AND TITANIUM SILICATES

摘要

A process for the removal of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, zinc, chromium, arsenic and mercury from aqueous solutions containing one or more of said metals as well as competing ions such as calcium and/or magnesium by contacting said aqueous solution with amorphous titanium or tin silicates is disclosed. Said amorphous titanium and tin silicates are characterized by a silicon-to-titanium or tin molar ratio of from 1:4 to 1.9:1 and a cumulative desorption pore volume ranging from about 0.03 to about 0.25 cubic centimeters per gram.