Removal of Lead and Copper from Aqueous Solution Using Gamma Rays and Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles

Nowadays ionizing beams such as gamma rays are used to remove organic and inorganic contaminants from wastewater and sewage sludge. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of gamma rays and titanium dioxide nanoparticles on the concentration of lead and zinc in aqueous solution at different pH. For this purpose, the effect of gamma rays at 4 levels (0, 4, 8 and 16 kGy) and chemical modifier of titanium dioxide at three levels (0, 2 and 4 g.l-1) with 0 and 10% methanol in water solutions with different pH (2, 4 and 6) on the removal of Pb and Cu were investigated. The experiment was performed as a factorial in a completely randomized design. The results showed that the lead and copper concentrations decreased with increasing pH. The concentrations of copper at pH level of six, 16 kGy of gamma radiation and the level of 4 g.l-1 of titanium dioxide (without methanol) decreased more. The concentration of lead at the level of pH six and 16 kGy of gamma radiation and levels of 2 and 4 g.l-1 of titanium dioxide (without methanol and with methanol) had a further decrease. Titanium dioxide showed the highest effect and gamma ray had the lowest effect on the removal of copper and lead from aqueous solution.