When REMOTOX® is added to the water, it decomposes to form bisulfide, aqueous hydrogen sulfide and other sulfur compounds. Heavy metal ions are typically precipitated as metal sulfides by these breakdown products. While effective treatment can be achieved over a wide pH range of the treatment system, best results are typically obtained within pH 7-10. Good mixing and sufficient contact time will optimize system performance. Dewatering the resulting precipitate can be expedited by employing an ionic flocculant.
REMOTOX® removes copper, nickel, zinc, chromium, lead, cadmium and other metals typically found in process wastewaters. This product has proven effective even when treating chelated and/or complexed metals. Its unique formulation also removes chromates and dichromates without preliminary reduction of the chromium to the trivalent state; therefore, there is no need for bisulfite, metabisulfite, sulfur dioxide or sulfuric acid.
Metal hydroxides change solubility with changes in pH. Metal sulfides remain insoluble within a wide pH range.
Solubility of Metal Hydroxides and Sulfides as a Function of pH
(Source: EPA publication, EPA-600/2-82-011C, 1981)
REMOTOX® precipitates heavy metals as metal sulfides. In the case of chromium, REMOTOX® reduces hexavalent chromium to trivalent state which then precipitates as chromium hydroxide in a one-step reaction.