Removal of nickel ions from wastewater using a cation-exchange resin in a batch-stirred tank reactor

The removal of nickel ions from wastewater polluted with nickel chloride using a cation-exchange resin was studied in a stirred tank reactor. The effect of various parameters such as nickel ion concentration, degree of stirring and temperature on the mass transfer coefficient (MTC) of the diffusion-controlled reaction between nickel ions and the resin was studied. It was found that MTC decreases with increasing nickel ion concentration and increases with increasing the degree of stirring and temperature. The results revealed that the use of a strong cation-exchange resin in a stirred tank reactor for nickel ion removal is a promising technique for wastewater treatment in view of the fact that nickel ion removal rates up to 88.5% were obtained.