Hexavalent chromium removal from aqueous solution by adsorption on aluminum magnesium mixed hydroxide

A series of sols consisting of aluminum magnesium mixed hydroxide (AMH) nanoparticles with various Mg/Al molar ratios were prepared by coprecipitation. The use of AMH as adsorbent to remove Cr(VI) from aqueous solution was investigated. Adsorption experiments were carried out as a function of the Mg/Al molar ratio, pH, contact time, concentration of Cr(VI) and temperature. It was found that AMH with Mg/Al molar ratio 3 has the largest adsorption efficiency due to the smallest average particle diameter and the highest zeta potential; AMH was particularly effective for the Cr(VI) removal in a pH range from acid to slightly alkaline, even though the most effective pH range was between 2.5 and 5.0. The adsorption of Cr(VI) on AMH reached equilibrium within 150 min. The saturated adsorption capacities of AMH for Cr(VI) were 105.3–112.0 mg/g at 20–40 °C. The interaction between the surface sites of AMH and the Cr(VI) ions may be a combination of both anion exchange and surface complexation. The pseudo-second-order model best described the adsorption kinetics of Cr(VI) onto AMH. The results showed that AMH can be used as a new adsorbent for Cr(VI) removal which has higher adsorption capacity and faster adsorption rate at pH values close to that at which pollutants are usually found in the environment.