Capture of mercury(2+) ions from effluent stream by cellulose derivatives

The ability of cellulose derivatives with 10-undecylenic acid supported on celyte and with o-aminothiophenol to capture Hg/sup 2 +/ ions from aqueous solutions is tested. These systems are useful tools for removal of Hg/sup 2 +/ ions from low concentration (0.5 mg Hg/ml 10/sup -3/) aqueous solutions and can lower them to a safe concentration of about 0.05 mg Hg/ml 10/sup -3/. A practical operational scheme is proposed which involves the sequential elution of a Hg/sup 2 +/-containing solution through a column filled with cellulose 10-undecylenate support followed by elution through a column filled with o-aminothiophenol cellulose derivative.