Adsorption of As(V) by boehmite and alumina of different morphologies prepared under hydrothermal conditions

- Hierarchical boehmite and alumina were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method.
- Use of different aluminum salts induced different morphologies in the materials.
- The synthesized materials were superior in As(V) adsorption to commercial alumina.

Morphology-controlled materials at the micro- and nanoscale levels are of great significance to the design and application of materials. Stable and well-dispersed boehmite and alumina with different morphologies were fabricated under hydrothermal conditions. The nitrate, chloride, and sulfate aluminum salts yielded nanoplate, microspindle, and microsphere morphologies, respectively. Calcination of the prepared boehmite samples yielded alumina samples with retention of the morphologies. In comparisons of samples with identical morphologies, alumina exhibited better uptake of As(V) than boehmite; the As(V) concentration was analyzed by the standard molybdenum blue method. The adsorption capabilities of the morphologically controlled materials are ranked microspindle > microsphere > nanoplate. The impacts of process parameters, such as reaction time; initial As(V) concentration; solution pH; competing ions (Ca2+, Mg2+, NO3−, PO43-), which are common in most aquatic ecosystems; and co-contaminants (Cr(VI), Pb(II)), on removal efficiencies were examined. A well-defined mesostructure, superior surface area, chemical and electrostatic interaction, and surface charge distribution over the aluminol surface sites could be factors in the uptake of As(V). The design and synthesis of functional hierarchical micro- and nanostructured materials with the desired adsorptive properties, which are suitable for water treatment applications, can be achieved through environmentally benign hydrothermal fabrication.