Natural organic polyelectrolytes, such as humic and fulvic acids, were removed by adsorption onto silicate rocks. Tobermorite, zeolite, and molecular sieves 5A were used as the adsorbents. Tobermorite was more efficient by 40-50% in the removal of fulvic acids, and by 30-50% for humic acid than zeolite or molecular sieves, respectively. Humic acid removal from the solution by adsorption onto silicate rocks took place more readily than fulvic acid removal. From the determined heat of adsorption, the adsorption process in the present study may be chemisorption (ligand exchange). Metal/humic acid complexes were effectively removed by adsorption onto tobermorite. Because tobermorite (a silicate rock) can be easily synthesized and obtained commercially, the adsorption method of removal of fulvic and humic acids is superior to their precipitation.
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