Evaluating the Performance of Iron Nano Particle Resin (Lewatit FO36) in Removing Cyanide from Aqueous Solutions

Cyanide can be removed from aqueous solutions using different but expensive methods. In this study، Lewatit FO36 exchange resin was used to remove cyanide.

Removing cyanide from the aqueous solutions with the Lewatit FO36 exchange resin was studied via considering the effects of absorbent dose، initial cyanide concentration، contact time and pH in batch phase.

In the batch ion exchange process، it was observed that the pH of solution and the contact time of nano particle resin in acidic conditions were very influential in obtaining the maximum removal. The optimum time was reached after 60 minutes of contact. In 60-minute contact time، the removal efficiency decreased from 74% to 42% by increasing pH from 7 to 11. The results showed that at the resin dose of 3 gr/L، contact time of 60 minutes، pH of 7 and cyanide concentration of 2. 5 mg/L، the cyanide maximum removal efficiency reached 81%. Lewatit FO36 showed high bonding constant and the ion exchange of cyanide on the cation exchange resin followed first order reversible kinetics.

The cyanide removal efficiency was initially fast but slowed down later and the removal efficiency was higher at neutral and acidic pH. However، due to its regeneration characteristic، Lewatit FO36 resin can be used as a convenient option to reduce the level of cyanide from the industrial waste water and specifically electroplating industries، where the problem of cyanide in sewage is ubiquitous.