Simple Method for the Removal of Mercury(II) from Its Aqueous Solution Using Aluminum as a Reducing Agent

Abstract

Removal of mercury(II) from its aqueous solution with the reduction technique by using aluminum metal as a reducing agent has been investigated. The experiments were performed by adding the amount weight of aluminum chips into testing solutions containing Hg(II) in various concentrations. Some factors studied in this investigation were pH and contact time. From the experimental data it is known that the temperature and contact time influenced on the reduction of Hg(II), where the optimum pH value and contact time of the reduction are 6 and 8 h, respectively. This simple method may be useful to remove the mercury(II) from any waste aqueous solution before their discharge into the environment.

Keywords: Aluminum, aqueous solution, contact time, mercury(II), pH, reducing agent, removal.