Adsorption of phosphate from aqueous solution using iron-zirconium modified activated carbon nanofiber: Performance and mechanism.

Title Adsorption of phosphate from aqueous solution using iron-zirconium modified activated carbon nanofiber: Performance and mechanism.
Authors W. Xiong; J. Tong; Z. Yang; G. Zeng; Y. Zhou; D. Wang; P. Song; R. Xu; C. Zhang; M. Cheng
Journal J Colloid Interface Sci
DOI 10.1016/j.jcis.2017.01.024
Abstract

Phosphate (P) removal is significant for the prevention of eutrophication in natural waters. In this paper, a novel adsorbent for the removal of P from aqueous solution was synthesized by loading zirconium oxide and iron oxide onto activated carbon nanofiber (ACF-ZrFe) simultaneously. The adsorbent was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results showed that P adsorption was highly pH dependent and the optimum pH was found to be 4.0. The isotherm of adsorption could be well described by the Langmuir model and the maximum P adsorption capacity was estimated to be 26.3mgP/g at 25°C. The kinetic data were well fitted to the pseudo-second-order equation, indicating that chemical sorption was the rate-limiting step. Moreover, co-existing ions including sulfate (SO4(2-)), chloride (Cl(-)), nitrate (NO3(-)) and fluoride (F(-)) exhibited a distinct effect on P adsorption with the order of F(-)>NO3(-)>Cl(-)>SO4(2-). Further investigations by FT-IR spectroscopy and pH variations associated with the adsorption process revealed that ligands exchange and electrostatic interactions were the dominant mechanisms for P adsorption. The findings reported in this work highlight the potential of using ACF-ZrFe as an effective adsorbent for the removal of P in natural waters.

Citation W. Xiong; J. Tong; Z. Yang; G. Zeng; Y. Zhou; D. Wang; P. Song; R. Xu; C. Zhang; M. Cheng.Adsorption of phosphate from aqueous solution using iron-zirconium modified activated carbon nanofiber: Performance and mechanism.. J Colloid Interface Sci. 2017;493:1723. doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2017.01.024

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Iron

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