TOWARDS A SAFER ENVIRONMENT: 3) PHOSPHATIC CLAYS AS SOLUTION FOR REMOVING PB2+ FROM WASTEWATER

To immobilize the pollutants from wastewater in situ, two phosphatic clays collected from different areas in Egypt (eastern and western Sebaia, Aswan-Isna, Upper Egypt) used to remove contaminant ions from industrial wastewater. Obtained results confirmed the strong relationship between phosphatic clay and Pb elimination from wastewater. The sensitivity classification of phosphatic clay toward ions retained as described in three categories: highly sensitive to retain Pb , Al and Cr ; moderately sensitive for Mn; and weakly sensitive for Band Zn. Data suggested that large fraction of Pb removed by phosphatic clays stayed intact under a wide variation in extracting solution pH (3-11). In situ immobilization is considered a promising technique that has the potential to remove contaminant ions from wastewater. Two important factors need to be considered when applying this technique: The first, is the clay must be effective and selective under different composition of wastewater. The second, is the immobilized ions should be stable and non-leacheable under varying water conditions. Phosphatic clays with $Pb^{2+}$ were suitable to achieve these two factors. Possible mechanism for removal $Pb^{2+}$ by phosphatic clays is the formation of fluoropyromorphite through the dissolution of fluoro and hydroxyl apatite by its precipitation from solution, beside, Pb complexation at phosphatic clay surface at P-OH sites.