Removal of copper from aqueous solution using activated silica fume with/without apocarbonic anhydrase

The use of silica fume waste material in the remediation of polluted heavy metal water to remove copper ions has been studied. For studying metal adsorption, 1 g of silica fume has been taken as adsorbent and then it is suspended in 50 mL of 1 mg/mL. CuCl2 at pH range 3 - 11 with / without apocarbonic anhydrase and contacted batchwise in a thermostatic (t=30 degrees C +/- 01 degrees C) water bath agitator for 1 h to enable equilibration of the sorbent and solution phases. The copper concentrations in the samples taken from the silica fume treated aqueous solutions of polluted river water and CuCl2 solution with/without apo carbonic anhydrase have been determined by spectrophotometric method using 1-amino-2-hydroxy-4naphthalenesulfonic acid. The results show that activated silica fume has a high level of adsorption capacity for Cu2+ ion. Consequently, it is concluded that the silica fume can be successfully used for the removal of the copper ions from the aqueous solutions with heavy metals.