Study of the Process of Heavy Metals Cations Mineralization by Poly-Component Structures Based on Calcium and Magnesium Silicates

Abstract

In order to achieve the goal of absorption of environmental pollutants, poly-component materials based on magnesium and calcium silicates - metal cations mineralizers – have been synthesized. The study of the processes of mineralization was carried out using model solutions containing soluble sulphates of copper, zinc, manganese and iron. The studies carried out have shown that the synthesized mineralizer based on calcium and magnesium silicates has a multicomponent structure with active electrochemically inhomogeneous centres on its surface as a result of breaking the Ca-O-Si, Mg-O-Si bonds, hydration and leaching of the Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions. In an acidic environment, the leaching reaction is activated due to H+ adsorption and the weakening of the bond between Ca2+ and O2-, thus making the transition of Ca2+ into the liquid phase more advantageous. As a result, a negatively charged ≡Si-O-layer enriched with silicon is formed, which is able to interact chemically with heavy metal ions present in the electrolyte solution.