Ion Flotation of Mercury (II) Ion Using Chitosan Derivative

The flotation of Hg2+ ions using chitosan derivative (chitopearl) as an adsorbent, polyacrylamide (PAA) as a coagulant and hexadecyltrimethyl-ammonium chloride (HTAC) as a frother was carried out. The floatability exceeded 98% at pH 410, and showing a maximum of nearly 100% was obtaind for 2.03×10-7 mol dm-3 Hg2+ ion solution by bubbling nitrogen gas with the addition of 1000ppm chitosan derivative, 10ppm PAA and 10ppm of HTAC. Hg2+ ions may possibly form a strong coordination bonds with amine groups of chitosan derivative. A tentative structure of the sublate is proposed to explain the action of the adsorbent, coagulant, and frother to promote the flotation of Hg2+ ions.