Efficient removal of ferric ions from aqueous medium by amine modified chitosan resins

Effective Removal of Fe (III) from Strongly Acidic Wastewater by Pyridine-Modified Chitosan: Synthesis, Efficiency, and Mechanism

A novel pyridine-modified chitosan (PYCS) adsorbent was prepared in a multistep procedure including the successive grafting of 2-(chloromethyl) pyridine hydrochloride and crosslinking with glutaraldehyde. Then, the as-prepared materials were used as adsorbents for the removal of metal ions from acidic wastewater. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out to study the impact of various factors such as solution pH value, contact time, temperature, and Fe (III) concentration. The results showed that the absorbent exhibited a high capacity of Fe (III) and the maximum adsorption capacity was up to 66.20 mg/g under optimal experimental conditions (the adsorption time = 12 h, pH = 2.5, and T = 303 K). Adsorption kinetics and isotherm data were accurately described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Sips model, respectively. Thermodynamic studies confirmed that the adsorption was a spontaneous endothermic process. Moreover, the adsorption mechanism was investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results revealed the pyridine group forms a stable chelate with iron (III) ions. Therefore, this acid-resistant adsorbent exhibited excellent adsorption performance for heavy metal ions from acidic wastewater compared to the conventional adsorbents, helping realize direct decontamination and secondary utilization.

Steel slag as a potential adsorbent for efficient removal of Fe(II) from simulated acid mine drainage: adsorption performance and mechanism

Acid mine drainage is an extraordinarily acidic and highly heavy metal ion-contaminated leachate, seriously threatening the environment. In this work, an industrial solid waste of steel slag is the adsorbent to remediate the simulated acid mine drainage containing a large amount of Fe(II) ions. Due to the excellent physicochemical properties and structures, steel slag exhibited remarkable Fe(II) removal performance. Its maximum removal efficiency was up to 100%. The initial pH, the dosage and particle size of steel slag, and initial concentration of heavy metal ions on Fe(II) removal efficiency were determined. The pseudo-second-order model and Freundlich isotherm model well described the adsorption behavior of steel slag, implying that the adsorption of Fe(II) by steel slag was mainly multilayer chemisorption. The thermodynamic study demonstrated that the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous; the enthalpy change was calculated to equal 91.21 kJ/mol. Mechanism study showed that the entire removal process of Fe(II) by steel slag was completed by electrostatic adsorption, chemical precipitation, and surface complexation in cooperation, and the chemical precipitation was the dominant mechanism. Meaningfully, this study provides a valuable strategy and path for engineering applications of AMD remediation by steel slag, which is prospective as an ideal candidate for Fe(II) ions elimination, inspiring the future development of "Treating the wastes with wastes."

Adsorptive Removal of Copper by Using Surfactant Modified Laterite Soil

Removal of copper ion (Cu2+) by using surfactant modified laterite (SML) was investigated in the present study. Characterizations of laterite were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and total carbon analysis. The optimum conditions for removal of Cu2+ by adsorption using SML were systematically studied and found as pH 6, contact time 90 min, adsorbent dosage 5 mg/mL, and ionic strength 10 mM NaCl. The equilibrium concentration of copper ions was measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (F-AAS). Surface modification of laterite by anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) induced a significant increase of the removal efficiency of Cu2+. The surface modifications of laterite by preadsorption of SDS and sequential adsorption of Cu2+ were also evaluated by XRD and FT-IR. The adsorption of Cu2+ onto SML increases with increasing NaCl concentration from 1 to 10 mM, but at high salt concentration this trend is reversed because desorption of SDS from laterite surface was enhanced by increasing salt concentration. Experimental results of Cu2+/SML adsorption isotherms at different ionic strengths can be represented well by a two-step adsorption model. Based on adsorption isotherms, surface charge effects, and surface modification, we suggest that the adsorption mechanism of Cu2+ onto SML was induced by electrostatic attraction between Cu2+ and the negatively charged SML surface and nonelectrostatic interactions between Cu2+ and organic substances in the laterite.

Modeling of breakthrough curves for aqueous iron (III) adsorption on chitosan-sodium tripolyphosphate

A fixed bed column packed with chitosan-sodium tripolyphosphate (CTPP) beads was used to remove aqueous Fe (III) ions. The adsorption of Fe (III) ions on CTPP beads was found to be dependent on operating conditions, such as the flow rate, adsorbent bed length, and feed concentration. The experimental data were assessed with Thomas, Adams-Bohart and Yoon-Nelson models to predict the breakthrough curves using linear regression. The breakthrough curves were better fitted with the Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models when the flow rate was varied and the feed concentration and the bed height of the column were fixed. Therefore, chemical adsorption may be the limiting step that controls the continuous adsorption process. The Adams-Bohart model presented a good fit to the experimental data, showing that external mass transfer was controlling the adsorption process in the initial part of the breakthrough curves. The parameters obtained from the continuous adsorption assays may be used as a basis for designing columns packed with CTPP beads for the removal of Fe (III) ions.

Magnetic nanocomposite beads: synthesis and uptake of Cu(II) ions from aqueous solutions

Sodium alginate and magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were combined to produce magnetic nanocomposite beads that were used for the removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solutions at a temperature of 25 °C and a stirring rate of 150 rpm. The different parameters affecting the adsorption capacity of the synthesized material such as contact time (30–270 min), pH (3–7), adsorbent dosage (5–10 g per 50 mL of wet beads), and initial Cu(II) concentration (50–450 mg/L) were investigated. Of all of the variables, the solution pH has the most significant effect on the adsorption capacity, particularly in the range of 4–6. Response surface methodology was used for modeling and optimizing the uptake process. While the experimental data were well described by the pseudo-second-order model, the adsorption isotherms were better fitted by the Langmuir equation. The results revealed that the maximum removal percentage was 92.6% from the initial Cu(II) concentration (150 mg/L) at pH 6, adsorbent dose (8.0 g/50 mL), and contact time (210 min). Therefore, the synthesized magnetic nanocomposite product could act as a highly effective nanoadsorbent in Cu(II) removal from the aqueous solutions.