COMPARATIVE STUDY OF A SILICOPHOSPHATE SORBENT BASED ON ENRICHMENT WASTES FROM THE AKBAKAY DEPOSIT AND BENTONITE IN THE SORPTION OF COPPER IONS FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS

Abstract

This work presents a comparative evaluation of a modified silicophosphate sorbent, synthesized from gold ore processing wastes of the Akbakay deposit via treatment with 20% orthophosphoric acid and subsequent calcination at 600°C, against natural and thermally treated bentonite. Key performance indicators, including solubility, mechanical strength, and equilibrium sorption capacity for copper ions, were determined. The Akbakay-derived silicophosphate sorbent exhibited exceptionally low aqueous solubility (1.22%), in stark contrast to natural bentonite, which actively disperses to form a stable colloidal emulsion. The modified sorbent demonstrated significantly superior Cu²⁺ removal efficiency across the entire investigated concentration range. While the high colloidality and solubility of bentonite constrain its utility in water treatment applications, the silicophosphate sorbent maintains its structural integrity and operational performance. This comparative analysis confirms the practical advantage of the modified sorbent derived from Akbakay technogenic waste for implementation in wastewater purification systems.