Hugo Aravena Bustamante

Mr. Hugo Aravena Bustamante

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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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18 November 2025 in Minerals
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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MSMario Santander
Mario Santander
HBHugo Aravena Bustamante
Hugo Aravena Bustamante
DGDanny Guzman
Danny Guzman
LVLuis Ivan Valderrama
Luis Ivan Valderrama
ESEvelyn Patricia Cárdenas Suárez
Evelyn Patricia Cárdenas Suárez
Liquid effluents generated during mineral processing are usually contaminated with heavy metals and oxyanions, requiring an effective technique for their simultaneous removal. This study evaluated adsorption as a method to remove ions from an artificial acid effluent containing Cu2+, Zn2+, and SO42−, using a mixture of activated carbon and barite as adsorbents. Adsorbent particles were prepared by grinding in a ring pulverizer for 120 s, using equal proportions of activated carbon and barite concentrate. The pH, contact time, and adsorbent particle mass were investigated. The results indicated that the adsorption efficiency depends on pH and adsorbent particle concentration: with increasing pH, the adsorption of Cu2+ and Zn2+ improves, while that of SO42− decreases. As the particle mass increases, the adsorption efficiency also increases. The maximum efficiency of simultaneous adsorption of ions of 55 ± 2.6% was achieved at pH 3 with an adsorbent particle concentration of 40 g·L−1. The experimental data best fit the pseudo-1st-order kinetic model, suggesting that the limiting stage is external or internal diffusion and that the predominant adsorption mechanism is physisorption. Furthermore, the results were best fitted to the Freundlich isotherm, indicating heterogeneous and multilayer adsorption. In conclusion, the mixture of activated carbon and barite is presented as a potential adsorbent for acid effluent treatment with heavy metals and oxyanions.