Sorptive removal of arsenite [As(III)] and arsenate [As(V)] by fuller’s earth immobilized nanoscale zero-valent iron nanoparticles (F-nZVI): Effect of Fe0 loading on adsorption activity

Fuller’s earth immobilized nanoscale zerovalent iron (F-nZVI 1–8) were synthesized by borohydride reduction method. The iron loading of fuller’s earth immobilized nZVI was varied from 5 to 50% (w/w) in these F-nZVI 1–8. The F-nZVI 1–8 were characterized by FE-SEM–EDX, FTIR, BET, XRD and TGA. The FE-SEM analysis showed an increase in agglomeration of nZVI on the immobilized material with increase in the loading of Fe0. F-nZVI 1–8 were studied for adsorptive removal of As(III) and As(V) from aqueous solution, with an emphasis on the effect of Fe0 loading of adsorbent on arsenic remediation. Iron loading has a significant role in adsorption of As(III) and As(V) on F-nZVI, with increase in adsorption with optimum iron loading of 20% (w/w) on fuller’s earth (F-nZVI-4). However, increase in loading above 20%, resulted in no significant increase in As(III) and As(V) adsorption. The adsorption results fitted well with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models and the maximum adsorption capacity of F-nZVI-4 for As(III) and As(V) were observed to be 50.08 and 91.42 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption isotherm and kinetic studies indicate a rapid removal of As(III) and As(V) from the aqueous solution in the presence of F-nZVI 1-8, with an substantially high rate of removal for arsenic with F-nZVI-4.

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