The impacts of common ions on the adsorption of heavy metal

Researches on the impact of common ions onto sediments are of great importance for the study of the heavy metal adsorption mechanisms. Considering the surface sediments from the relatively clean reach in the Baotou section of the Yellow River as the adsorbent, this work presents the impacts of common ions (Na+, Mg2+, K+, Ca2+, Cl-, SO42-, and NH4+) on heavy metals (Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+) adsorption. The experimental results reveal that the adsorptive capacities of the heavy metals are controlled by different adsorption mechanisms in different ion concentration ranges. With the increase of the ionic strength, the adsorption of the heavy metals increases for the compression of the electric double layer, whereas decreases for the decreasing of the ionic activities of the heavy metals. The competitive adsorption and complexations between the heavy metals and common ions are also important factors controlling the heavy metal adsorption. According to the experimental results and the real concentration of common ions in the Baotou section of the Yellow River, the increase of the concentrations of Na+, Mg2+, K+, and Ca2+ would cause the increase of Zn2+ adsorption and reduce the Zn pollution. The NH4+ from the industrial discharge of the tributaries has a strong impact on the heavy metal adsorption.