Adsorptive Removal of Arsenic from Aqueous Environment

Abstract

Adsorptive removal of As(III) and As(V) from a water environment has been investigated, employing Diaion CRB05, with N-methylglucamine functional group, and Lewatit FO 36, with a FeOOH functional group. Batchwise adsorption of arsenic elucidated that the adsorption was affected by the pH of aqueous solution, and the optimal pH for high adsorption amount was determined to be in range 3.0–4.5 for adsorption of As(V) and 7.0–8.5 for adsorption of As(III). Adsorption isotherms of both As(III) and As(V) followed the Langmuir mechanism, and FO 36 was revealed to possess high adsorption capacities for both As(V) (122 mg/g) and As(III) (98 mg/g). Desorption of the loaded arsenic from both adsorbents could be performed by either diluted HCl or NaOH solution. Chromatographic studies for the arsenic removal indicated that both adsorbents could be used repeatedly.