Adsorptive Removal of Low-Concentration Cr(VI) in Aqueous Solution by Mg-Al Layered Double Oxides

Groundwater Cr(VI) contamination and remediation: A review from 1999 to 2022

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) contamination of groundwater has traditionally been an environmental issue of great concern due to its bioaccumulative and highly toxic nature. This paper presents a review and bibliometric analysis of the literature on the interest area "Cr(VI) in groundwater" published in the Web of Science Core Collection from 1999 to 2022. First, information on 203 actual Cr(VI)-contaminated groundwater sites around the world was summarized, and the basic characteristics of the sources and concentrations of contamination were derived. 68.95% of the sites were due to human causes and 56.43% of these sites had Cr(VI) concentrations in the range of 0-10 mg/L. At groundwater sites with high Cr(VI) contamination due to natural causes, 75.00% of the sites had Cr(VI) concentrations less than 0.2 mg/L. A total of 936 papers on "Cr(VI) in groundwater" were retrieved for bibliometric analysis: interest in research on Cr(VI) in groundwater has grown rapidly in recent years; 59.4% of the papers were published in the field of environmental sciences. A systematic review of the progress of studies on the Cr(VI) removal/remediation based on reduction, adsorption and biological processes is presented. Out of 666 papers on Cr(VI) removal/remediation, 512, 274, and 75 papers dealt with the topics of reduction, adsorption, and bioremediation, respectively. In addition, several studies have demonstrated the potential applicability of natural attenuation in the remediation of Cr(VI)-contaminated groundwater. This paper will help researchers to understand and investigate methodological strategies to remove Cr(VI) from groundwater in a more targeted and effective manner.

Surface modification of quartz sand: A review of its progress and its effect on heavy metal adsorption

Quartz sand (SiO₂) is a prevalent filtration medium, boasting wide accessibility, superior stability, and cost-effectiveness. However, its utility is often curtailed by its sleek surface, limited active sites, and swift saturation of adsorption sites. This review outlines the prevalent strategies and agents for quartz sand surface modification and provides a comprehensive analysis of the various modification reagents and their operative mechanisms. It delves into the mechanism and utility of surface-modified quartz sand for adsorbing heavy metal ions (HMIs). It is found that the reported modifiers usually form connections with the surface of quartz sand through electrostatic forces, van der Waals forces, pore filling, chemical bonding, and/or molecular entanglement. The literature suggests that these modifications effectively address issues inherent to natural quartz sand, such as its low superficial coarseness, rapid adsorption site saturation, and limited adsorption capacity. Regrettably, comprehensive investigations into the particle size, regenerative capabilities, and application costs of surface-modified quartz sand and the critical factors for its wider adoption are lacking in most reports. The adsorption mechanisms indicate that surface-modified quartz sand primarily removes HMIs from aqueous solutions through surface complexation, ion exchange, and electrostatic and gravitational forces. However, these findings were derived under controlled laboratory conditions, and practical applications for treating real wastewater necessitate overcoming further laboratory-scale obstacles. Finally, this review outlines the limitations of partially surface modified quartz sand and suggests potential venues for future developments, providing a valuable reference for the advancement of cost-effective, HMI-absorbing, surface-modified quartz sand filter media.

Development of ceramic honeycomb monolith from natural zeolite tested as adsorbent to remove methylene blue in aqueous media

This work presents a ceramic monolith with a honeycomb structure obtained from a natural zeolite (clinoptilolite), bentonite, and alumina. The monolith obtained by extrusion had a cell density of 57 CPSI (cells per square inch), an open frontal area of 52% w/w, and a wall thickness of 0.9 mm. The raw materials and the natural zeolite ceramic monolith (NZCM) were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption-desorption at 77 K, CO2 adsorption at 273 K, mercury intrusion-extrusion, axial compression tests, resistance to leaching at acidic and basic pH, and point of zero charge. The NZCM presented an SBET = 31 m2∙g-1, a modal micropore size of 0.44 nm, a porosity of 39%, the compressive stress = 14 MPa, and a pHPZC = 7.5. The NZCM was used as an inexpensive and easy-to-handle adsorbent to remove methylene blue (MB) dye in batch studies of kinetics and adsorption isotherms. From modeling of adsorption kinetic data, the predominant phenomenon in this system was physisorption. The modeling of adsorption isotherm data shows that the material has homogeneous active sites. The adsorption occurs by monolayer formation, finding a maximum capacity removal rate of 27 mg MB per gram of NZCM. Compared to other structured materials, a high capacity for removing MB with the ceramic monolith was obtained along with good mechanical properties and resistance in acidic and alkaline environments.

Adsorption Performance and Mechanism of Synthetic Schwertmannite to Remove Low-Concentration Fluorine in Water

Fluorine (F) in water has a negative effect on the environment and human health. Schwertmannite has potential remediation to contamination in solution. In this study, the adsorption mechanism and influencing factors of synthetic schwertmannite for low-concentration F were studied through batch experiments. The results suggested that the adsorption of F by schwertmannite reached equilibrium after about 60 min, and the adsorption efficiency exceeded 94%. The experimental data can be best-fit by the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir models well. Schwertmannite showed effective adsorption at pH 4, dosage 1.5 g L^-1, low temperature, and low concentration of co-existing anion. The adsorption process was a spontaneous and exothermic reaction, which was dominated by chemical adsorption. FT-IR and XPS spectra analysis revealed that F adsorption on schwertmannite through the surface complexation and anion exchange reaction between SO₄^2- and OH^- with F^-, especially the primary role of OH^-. The results can provide theoretical support for the schwertmannite application in the treatment of F-containing wastewater.