The uptake of aluminium by wool

Abstract

The uptake of aluminium by scoured and chemically modified wool from aqueous solutions of aluminium sulphate, chloride, and fluoride has been investigated. The effects of temperature, length of treatment, pH, concentration of aluminium salt, anion present, and the presence or absence of swelling agents have been determined. For maximum aluminium uptake an aluminium concentration of about 0.01M aluminium at pH 3.5-4 should be used. In general, it was found that aluminium could be removed by washing sufficiently. It was shown that the aluminium was bound ionically to carboxylate or sulphonate groups present on the wool, as well as by Van der Waals forces to non-specific sites on the wool.