Chang-oh Choo, Ig-Hwan Sung, Journal of koSES, Vol.4, No.1 57-68, 1999
Adsorption behavior of metal elements onto soil minerals such as illite, halloysite, zeolite (clinoptilolite), and goethite was comparatively investigated at 25°C using pollutant water collected from a gold-bearing metal mine. Speciation of solutions reacted was determined by WATEQ4F program, indicating that most of metal ions exist as free ions and that there is little difference in chemical species and their relative abundances between initial solution and reacted solutions. The experimental data exhibit that the adsorption extent of elements varies depending on the type of mineral and the reaction time. The adsorption process practically takes place within one hour, with Fe and As significantly removed from solutions. On the whole, halloysite is regarded as the most effective adsorbent among minerals used in the experiment. Adsorption properties of alkali elements are not consistent with a manner predicted from hydrated ionic radii.