Sorption of selenium(IV) and selenium(VI) to mackinawite (FeS): Effect of contact time, extent of removal, sorption envelopes

Higher concentrations (127, 253 μM) of Se(IV) at pH 8 were completely removed by 0.5 g/L FeS within 120 min. Removal of Se(VI) by FeS at pH 8 was less extensive than removal of Se(IV). Only 10% of the Se(VI) was removed by 1 g/L FeS within 1 h. Removal patterns for Se by FeS depend on pH. Removal patterns of Se at pH 7 and pH 8 were best described by BET models for Se(IV) and Freundlich models for Se(VI), while removal patterns of both at pH 9 and 10 were best described by Langmuir models. Sulfate at 1 and 10 mM had negligible effect on removal of Se(IV) by FeS, while sulfate had little effect on removal of Se(VI) by FeS, but there was some indication that sulfate promoted removal of Se(VI) at intermediate concentrations. The test for the effect of pH on sorption of Se(IV) by FeS showed nearly complete removal at all but the high initial pH. When pH was raised back to initial value, greater removals were observed than initially. Mixtures of Se(VI) and FeS showed moderate removal at low pH, a minimum removal near pH 6 and nearly complete removal at high pH. Very high stability was observed with negligible release as pH decreased.