STUDY THE EFFECT OF PARTICLE SIZE OF VERMICULITE ОN SORPTION PROPERTIES IN RELATION TO IONS OF Cu (II) AND Cd (II)
Heavy metal compounds are known to be common environmental pollutants. Heavy metal compounds are toxic to biota: their cumulative, mutagenic, and oncogenic properties are known. Heavy metals and their compounds can get into natural waters with untreated effluents of mining and processing of rocks and ores, electroplating industries, engineering enterprises, etc. In the chain of “natural water - flora - fauna - human” compounds of heavy metals can get into food, which for humans and animals is fraught with poisoning, and as they accumulate can lead to emergence of serious pathologies, including cancer. In particular, cadmium is known as one of the most toxic heavy metals and belongs to the 2nd class according to the degree of danger. Its toxic effect is based on blocking of sulfur-containing amino acids, which leads to disruption of protein metabolism and damages the cell nucleus. Cadmium compounds intensify removal of calcium from bones and affect the nervous system. In recent years, the anthropogenic factor of pollution by cadmium compounds of natural waters become one of the main. Copper is known as a biogenic element. However, the excess of copper (II) ions is dangerous for biota, because copper (II) ions activate the reaction of free radical oxidation of organic molecules in the body, which leads to disruption in the functioning of a number of vital enzymes. Often the content of heavy metal ions in industrial wastewater is much higher than the MPC. Therefore, waste water of enterprises before their use for household purposes should be thoroughly cleaned, and the cleaning procedure should include the removal of heavy metal ions. One of the methods of industrial wastewater treatment is sorption method. It is known that the existing sorbents are not effective enough and the processes involving them are expensive, because they require high energy costs. The aim of this work was to study the effect of the degree of dispersion of vermiculite - a mineral of natural origin on its sorption properties in relation to ions of copper (II) and cadmium with the aim of developing highly efficient adsorbent, taking into account the reduction of energy consumption for the maintenance of the sorption process. Experiments have shown high sorption activity of vermiculite obtained by mechanical grinding on a planetary mill in relation to copper (II) and cadmium ions.