Sorption of arsenic from soil-washing leachate by surfactant-modified zeolite

New-Generation Washing Agents in Remediation of Metal-Polluted Soils and Methods for Washing Effluent Treatment: A Review

Soil quality is seriously reduced due to chemical pollution, including heavy metal (HM) pollution. To meet quality standards, polluted soils must be remediated. Soil washing/soil flushing offers efficient removal of heavy metals and decreases environmental risk in polluted areas. These goals can be obtained by using proper washing agents to remove HMs from soil. These washing agents should not pose unacceptable threats to humans and ecosystems, including soil composition. Currently, it is desirable to use more environmentally and economically attractive washing agents instead of synthetic, environmentally problematic chemicals (e.g., ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)). The usefulness of novel washing agents for treatment of heavy metal-contaminated soils is being intensively developed, in terms of the efficiency of HM removal and properties of washed soils. Despite the unquestionable effectiveness of soil washing/flushing, it should be remembered that both methods generate secondary fluid waste (spent washing solution), and the final stage of the process should be treatment of the contaminated spent washing solution. This paper reviews information on soil contamination with heavy metals. This review examines the principles and status of soil washing and soil flushing. The novel contribution of this review is a presentation of the sources and characteristics of novel washing agents and chemical substitutes for EDTA, with their potential for heavy metal removal. Methods for treating spent washing solution are discussed separately.

Sorption of Molybdates and Tungstates on Functionalized Montmorillonites: Structural and Textural Features

Montmorillonite—the most popular mineral of the smectite group—has been recognized as a low-cost, easily available mineral sorbent of heavy metals and other organic and inorganic compounds that pollute water. The aim of this work was to determine the sorption mechanism and to identify the reaction products formed on the surface of montmorillonite and organo-montmorillonite after sorption of molybdates (Mo(VI)) and tungstates (W(VI)). Montmorillonites are often modified to generate a negative charge on the surface. The main objective of the study was to investigate and compare the features of Na-montmorillonite (Na-M), montmorillonite modified with dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DDTMA-M), and montmorillonite modified with didodecyl dimethyl ammonium bromide (DDDDMA-M) before and after sorption experiments. The material obtained after sorption was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XRD pattern showed the presence of a new crystallic phase in the sample that was observed under an SEM as an accumulation of crystals. The FTIR spectra showed bands related to Mo–O and W–O vibration (840 and 940 cm⁻¹, respectively). The obtained results suggest that molybdenum(VI) and tungsten(VI) ions sorb onto the organo-montmorillonite in the form of alkylammonium molybdates and tungstates.

Anaerobic digestion to reduce biomass and remove arsenic from As-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata

The lack of efficient methods to treat As-rich biomass is a drawback for phytoremediation technology. In this study, we applied anaerobic digestion to reduce biomass and remove As from As-rich Pteris vittata biomass. P. vittata biomass including control (3.1 mg kg^-1 As) and As-rich (2665 mg kg^-1 As), together with positive and negative controls, was anaerobically digested at 35 °C for 35 d. Arsenic partitioning among gas, liquid and solid phases after anaerobic digestion was determined. Methane index potential assay was used to assess methane yields whereas liquid-displacement method was used to measure methane gas production. After 35 d, As partitioning in the liquid, solid and gas phases was 79, 30 and 1%, respectively. Besides, volatile solid was decreased from 91 to 12-17% total solid, while P. vittata biomass was decreased by 73-83%. Moreover, anaerobic digestion solubilized 76% As from P. vittata biomass, with 90% soluble As at 4.95 mg L^-1 being recovered by As-Mg precipitation. Finally, methane production after 35 d was 197-212 L_NCH₄/kg volatile solid, showing slight As inhibition. Effective As removal from P. vittata biomass prior to disposal can improve the phytoremediation process.

Arsenic removal and biomass reduction of As-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata: Coupling ethanol extraction with anaerobic digestion

Improper disposal of arsenic-rich biomass and the lack of efficient methods to treat it may cause contamination in the environment. We developed an efficient method for arsenic (As) removal and biomass reduction of As-rich biomass of the As-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata by coupling ethanol extraction with anaerobic digestion. This study assessed As partitioning among the three phases (gas, liquid and solid) after anaerobic digestion of P. vittata biomass. Biomass with and without As was first extracted with ethanol. Ethanol extraction removed ~93% As, with remaining As concentration at 197 mg kg^-1. The extracted biomass was then digested at 35 °C under anaerobic conditions for 35 d. Arsenic in the digested biomass was reduced by 89%, with remaining As concentration at 60 mg kg^-1. In addition, anaerobic digestion reduced the biomass by 64-71% and decreased the volatile solids content from 94 to 15-18%. Methane production was 145 and 160 L_NCH₄/kgVS after 35 d for As-rich and control biomass, respectively. As a final step, As concentration in anaerobic digestate supernatant was reduced to 0.26 mg L^-1 by As-Mg precipitation. Overall, coupling ethanol extraction with anaerobic digestion decreased As concentration in P. vittata biomass from 2665 to 60 mg kg^-1, or by 98%. At this level (<100 mg As kg^-1), P. vittata biomass can be considered a safe material based on USEPA regulations. Effective As removal from P. vittata biomass prior to disposal improves the phytoremediation process and lowers biomass transport and landfill disposal costs.

Arsenic removal from As-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata biomass: Coupling extraction with precipitation

Proper disposal of As-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata biomass (Chinese brake fern) enhances its application in phytoremediation. The goal of this study was to optimize As removal from P. vittata (PV) biomass by testing different particle sizes, extractants, extraction times and solid-to-liquid ratios. PV biomass was extracted using different extractants followed by different Mg-salts to recover soluble As via precipitation. Water-soluble As in PV biomass varied from 6.8% to 61% of total As depending on extraction time, with 99% of As being arsenate (AsV). Extraction with 2.1% HCl, 2.1% H₃PO₄, 1 M NaOH and 50% ethanol recovered 81, 78, 47 and 14% of As from PV biomass. A follow-up extraction using HCl recovered 27-32% with ethanol recovering only 5%. Though ethanol showed the lowest extractable As, residual As in the biomass was also the lowest. Among the extractants, 35% ethanol was the best to remove As from PV biomass. Approximately 90% As was removed from PV biomass using particle size <1 mm at solid:liquid ratio 1:50 and pH 6 for 2 h. Adding MgCl₂ at As:Mg ratio of 1:400 with pH 9.5 was effective to precipitate soluble As, resulting in 98% removal. Effective removal of As from PV biomass prior to disposal helps make phytoremediation more feasible.

Removal of lead and phosphate ions from aqueous solutions by organo-smectite

Smectite has been modified using hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide in an amount of double cationic exchange capacity. This alteration makes it possible to use organo-smectite as a sorbent to remove anionic forms. The experiment consisted of the interchangeable sorption of phosphate(V) and lead(II) by organo-smectite. Research was carried out with varying pH (2-5) and various concentrations (0.1-5 mmol/L). Organo-smectite with previously adsorbed lead ions removed more phosphate than the untreated organo-smectite. Experimental data show that lead is more likely to absorb on the organo-smectite than on the organo-smectite with previously adsorbed phosphate ions. It follows that the most effective use of the organo-smectite is through the sorption of first - Pb cations and then PO4 anions. With an increasing concentration of Pb(II) or P(V), the sorption efficiency increases. The maximum sorption efficiency of lead and phosphate ions is observed at pH 5. This enables the removal of harmful lead and phosphorus compounds from waste water and immobilizes them on the sorbent's surface. The alternating reactions of lead and phosphorus ions result in the crystallization of brompyromorphite Pb5(PO4)3Br.

Attenuation of trace elements in coal fly ash leachates by surfactant-modified zeolite

Potential leaching of trace elements from older, unlined fly ash disposal facilities is a serious threat to groundwater and surface water contamination. Therefore, effective methods for containing the pollutant elements within the unlined coal combustion products (CCPs) disposal facilities are required to minimize any potential impact of leachate emanating from such facilities into the nearby environment. Because surfactant-modified zeolite (SMZ) has the potential to sequester both cationic and anionic trace elements from aqueous solutions, bench-scale batch and column experiments were performed to test its ability to remediate trace elements in leachates generated from both alkaline and acidic fly ash samples. Fly ash leachate treatment results showed the potential application of SMZ as an effective permeable reactive barrier (PRB) material to control the dispersion of heavy metals and metalloids from ash disposal sites. Quantitative comparison of the elemental composition of SMZ-treated and untreated leachates indicated that SMZ was effective in decreasing the concentrations of trace elements in fly ash leachates. Similarly, SMZ treatment column experiments showed the delayed peak leaching events and overall reductions in leachate concentrations of trace elements. The effectiveness of SMZ column treatments, however, decreased with time potentially due to the saturation of sorption sites.

Arsenic removal from groundwater by MnO2-modified natural clinoptilolite zeolite: effects of pH and initial feed concentration

Adsorption of arsenic (As(5+)) on natural and MnO(2)-modified clinoptilolite-Ca zeolite adsorbents was investigated to explore the feasibility of removing arsenic from groundwater using natural zeolite adsorbents. The natural and MnO(2)-modified clinoptilolite-Ca zeolite adsorbents were characterized with nitrogen adsorption at 77K for pore textural properties, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence for morphology, elemental composition and distribution. Batch adsorption equilibrium experiments were conducted to study the effects of pH and initial feed concentration on arsenic removal efficiency. It was found that the amphoteric properties and arsenic removal efficiency of the natural clinoptilolite-Ca zeolite were significantly improved after modification with MnO(2). The MnO(2)-modified zeolite could effectively remove arsenic from water at a wide pH range, and the arsenic removal efficiency that is basically independent of the pH of feed solutions varies slightly with the initial arsenic concentration in the feed solutions. The removal efficiency obtained on the modified zeolite was doubled as compared to that obtained on the unmodified zeolite. The MnO(2)-modified clinoptilolite-Ca zeolite appears to be a promising adsorbent for removing trace arsenic amounts from water.

Occurrence and treatment of arsenic in groundwater and soil in northern Mexico and southwestern USA

This review focuses on the occurrence and treatment of arsenic (As) in the arid region of northern Mexico (states of Chihuahua and Coahuila) and bordering states of the southwestern US (New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas), an area known for having high As concentrations. Information assembled and assessed includes the content and probable source of As in water, soil, and sediments and treatment methods that have been applied in the area. High As concentrations were found mainly in groundwater, their source being mostly from natural origin related to volcanic processes with significant anthropogenic contributions near mining and smelting of ores containing arsenic. The affinity of As for solid phases in alkaline conditions common to arid areas precludes it from being present in surface waters, accumulating instead in sediments and shifting its threat to its potential remobilization in reservoir sediments and irrigation waterways. Factors such as oxidation and pH that affect the mobility of As in the subsurface environment are mentioned. Independent of socio-demographic variables, nutritional status, and levels of blood lead, cognitive development in children is being affected when exposed to As. Treatments known to effectively reduce As content to safe drinking water levels as well as those that are capable of reducing As content in soils are discussed. Besides conventional methods, emergent technologies, such as phytoremediation, offer a viable solution to As contamination in drinking water.

Properties and applications of zeolites

Zeolites are aluminosilicate solids bearing a negatively charged honeycomb framework of micropores into which molecules may be adsorbed for environmental decontamination, and to catalyse chemical reactions. They are central to green-chemistry since the necessity for organic solvents is minimised. Proton-exchanged (H) zeolites are extensively employed in the petrochemical industry for cracking crude oil fractions into fuels and chemical feedstocks for other industrial processes. Due to their ability to perform cation-exchange, in which the cations that are originally present to counterbalance the framework negative charge may be exchanged out of the zeolite by cations present in aqueous solution, zeolites are useful as industrial water-softeners, in the removal of radioactive Cs+ and Sr2+ cations from liquid nuclear waste and in the removal of toxic heavy metal cations from groundwaters and run-off waters. Surfactant-modified zeolites (SMZ) find particular application in the co-removal of both toxic anions and organic pollutants. Toxic anions such as arsenite, arsenate, chromate, cyanide and radioactive iodide can also be removed by adsorption into zeolites that have been previously loaded with co-precipitating metal cations such as Ag+ and Pb2+ which form practically insoluble complexes that are contained within the zeolite matrix.

Sorption of naphthalene and phosphate to the CTMAB-Al13 intercalated bentonites

This work aimed to develop novel bentonite based sorbents that could simultaneously remove hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) and phosphate from water. Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTMAB) and hydroxy-aluminum (Al(13)) were used to intercalate bentonite simultaneously or sequentially to prepare series of inorganic-organic bentonites (IOBs). Structures of the prepared IOBs were characterized, and their sorptive characteristics towards naphthalene and phosphate were investigated. Results showed that both CTMAB and Al(13) could intercalate into bentonite's interlayers if they were simultaneously used or if CTMAB was first used for the intercalation. The resulting IOBs were as effective as the CTMAB modified bentonites in sorption of naphthalene from water, and they were shown to be more effective in sorption of phosphate from water than the Al(13) pillared bentonite. However, if Al(13) was first used for the intercalation, the interlayers of the bentonites would be "locked" by the intercalated Al(13), and thus CTMAB could hardly further intercalate bentonite. As a result, the obtained IOBs showed weak sorption efficiency towards naphthalene, and its sorption capacity towards phosphate was also lower than the corresponding Al(13) pillared bentonites. Results of this work showed that IOBs prepared with proper processes could be efficient sorbents towards both HOCs and phosphate.

Adsorption of As(V) on surfactant-modified natural zeolites

Natural mordenite (NM), natural clinoptilolite (NC), HDTMA-modified natural mordenite (SMNM) and HDTMA-modified natural clinoptilolite (SMNC) have been proposed for the removal of As(V) from aqueous solution (HDTMA=hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide). Influence of time on arsenic sorption efficiency of different sorbents reveals that NM, NC, SMNM and SMNC require about 20, 10, 110 and 20h, respectively to reach at state of equilibrium. Pseudo-first-order model was applied to evaluate the As(V) sorption kinetics on SMNM and SMNC within the reaction time of 0.5h. The pseudo-first-order rate constants, k are 1.06 and 0.52h(-1) for 1 and 0.5g of SMNM, respectively. The observed k values 1.28 and 0.70h(-1) for 1 and 0.5g of SMNC, respectively are slightly high compared to SMNM. Surfactant surface coverage plays an important role and a significant increase in arsenate sorption capacity could be achieved as the HDTMA loading level on zeolite exceeds monolayer coverage. At a surfactant partial bilayer coverage, As(V) sorption capacity of 97.33 and 45.33mmolkg(-1) derived from Langmuir isotherm for SMNM and SMNC, respectively are significantly high compared to 17.33 and 9.33mmolkg(-1) corresponding to NM and NC. The As(V) uptake was also quantitatively evaluated using the Freundlich and Dubinin-Kaganer-Radushkevich (DKR) isotherm models. Both SMNM and SMNC removed arsenic effectively over the initial pH range 6-10. Desorption performance of SMNM and SMNC were 66.41% and 70.04%, respectively on 0.1M NaOH regeneration solution.

Aflatoxin B(1) adsorption by natural and copper modified montmorillonite

Adsorption of aflatoxin B(1) (AFB1) by natural montmorillonite (MONT) and montmorillonite modified with copper ions (Cu-MONT) was investigated. Both MONTs were characterized using the X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) analysis, thermal analysis (DTA/TGA) and scanning electron miscroscopy/electron dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). The results of XRPD and SEM/EDS analyses of Cu-MONT suggested partial ion exchange of native inorganic cations in MONT with copper occurred. Investigation of AFB1 adsorption by MONT and Cu-MONT, at pH 3, 7 or 9, showed that adsorption of this toxin by both MONTs was high (over 93%). Since AFB1 is nonionizable, no differences in AFB1 adsorption by both MONTs, at different pHs, were observed, as expected. Futhermore, it was determined that adsorption of AFB1 by both MONTs followed a non-linear (Langmuir) type of isotherm, at pH 3. The calculated maximum adsorbed amounts of AFB1 by MONT (40.982mg/g) and Cu-MONT (66.225mg/g), derived from Langmuir plots of isotherms, indicate that Cu-MONT was much effective in adsorbing AFB1. Since, the main cation in an exchangeable position in MONT is calcium, and in Cu-MONT both calcium and copper, the fact that ion exchange of inorganic cations in MONT with copper increases adsorption of AFB1 suggests that additional interactions between AFB1 and copper ions in Cu-MONT caused greater adsorption.

Zeolite Mediated Reactions: Mechanistic Aspects and Environmental Applications

An overview is presented of basic research and applications for the use of zeolites in environmentally-related topics. The use of these materials to promote oxidation reactions, and other catalytic processes is surveyed along with ship-in-a-bottle synthesis of particular zeolite-encapsulated catalysts. Methods for probing the surfaces of zeolites using spin-probes and ESR detection are mentioned. The ability of some thermally activated zeolites to produce spontaneously radical cations by single-electron oxidation of organic molecules is reviewed. The issue of the degree of acidity of H-zeolites is discussed, which demonstrates them not to be super-acids. Some ESR determinations of the adsorption of NOx species onto selected zeolites are reviewed and the use of zeolites to catalyse desulfurisation of hydrocarbons is considered. Finally, there is mention made of the use of zeolites to catalyse hydrodechlorination of CFC's and other organic chlorine-containing compounds. Surfactant-modified zeolites (SMZ) for use as polyfunctional decontamination agents are further discussed. Theoretical methods, e.g. Density Functional Theory (DFT), are finding their own application to studying the mechanisms of reactions that are mediated by zeolites as is shown throughout.

Adsorption of zearalenone by organomodified natural zeolitic tuff

Adsorption of zearalenone (ZEN) by natural zeolitic tuff, modified with different numbers of octadecyldimethylbenzylammonium (ODMBA) ions, was investigated. The results of solid-state 1H NMR analysis of the starting material suggested that zeolitic tuff is rich in mineral clinoptilolite, confirming the results of previous thermal stability study. Three organozeolites (OZ-2, OZ-5, and OZ-10) were prepared with ODMBA surface coverages of 20, 50, and 100 mmol/100 g. The mechanism of ZEN sorption by the three organozeolites was investigated through the determination of the adsorption isotherms at pH 3, 7, and 9. Adsorption of ZEN by organozeolites was best represented by a linear type of isotherm at pH 3, while at pH 7 and 9, adsorption of ZEN by organozeolites followed a nonlinear (Langmuir) type of isotherm. The different shape of the ZEN adsorption isotherms for the three organozeolites with different levels of ODMBA at the zeolitic surface at different pH values suggests that the adsorption mechanism may be dependent on the form of ZEN in solution. Since, at pH 3, ZEN exists in solution as the neutral form, the linear isotherms at pH 3 suggested that hydrophobic interactions are probably responsible for adsorption of neutral, hydrophobic ZEN onto the hydrophobic surface of the organozeolites. At pH 7, the phenolate anion is present in water solution, while at pH 9, ZEN is almost entirely in the anionic form. The nonlinear isotherms obtained for ZEN adsorption by the three organozeolites suggest that sorption appears to be the result of the adsorption process as well as partitioning.

Adsorptive removal of arsenites by a nanocrystalline hybrid surfactant–akaganeite sorbent

Removal of toxic arsenite ions from aqueous solutions was investigated using an innovative hybrid nanocrystalline surfactant-modified akaganeite. This sorbent was prepared using ferric chloride as the precursor and a cationic surfactant, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide. From the experimental work, the material was found to be an effective adsorbent for the separation of arsenites. The chemical kinetics of the process was studied, described by a pseudo-second-order equation. The Freundlich adsorption isotherm was determined to examine the mechanism of sorption. FTIR measurements and XPS analysis gave useful information both on the sorbent synthesized and on the arsenite removal process.