Adsorption of As(III) from aqueous solutions by novel Fe-Mg type hydrotalcite

Abstract

Morphological and chemical evaluation of Fe-Mg hydrotalcite (Fe-HT) was performed using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and electron microanalysis for application as an adsorbent for water treatment. The adsorption of arsenic III (As(III)) on Fe-HT was evaluated via examination of the effect of the contact time and analysis of the adsorption isotherm. The amount of As(III) adsorbed increased slightly with increasing temperature. The results of the adsorption isotherm studies suggested that As(III) adsorption can be well described by both the Freundlich and Langmuir equations. The adsorption of As(III) on Fe-HT reached equilibrium within 24 h, and the adsorption kinetic data fit the pseudo-second-order kinetic model better than the pseudo-first-order model. The amount of As(III) present on the surface of Fe-HT increased after As(III) adsorption, and the crystalline structure of Fe-HT was maintained after adsorption of As(III). The (003) and (006) peaks in the X-ray diffraction patterns were attributed to basal reflections, and these peaks shifted from respective 2θ values of 10.86 and 21.94° to 11.12 and 22.52°, indicating exchange of As(III) with chloride ions in Fe-HT with consequent narrowing of the inter-layer spacing. Collectively, these results suggest that Fe-HT is prospectively useful for the adsorption of As(III) from aqueous solutions.