Adsorption of vanadium(V) from acidic solutions by using octylamine functionalized magnetite nanoparticles as a novel adsorbent

Abstract

Adsorption of vanadium(V) from acidic solutions was investigated by using octylamine functionalized magnetite nanoparticles as a novel adsorbent of vanadium. Batch experiments were conducted to determine the effects of initial pH, nanoparticles to octylamine weight ratio, amount of adsorbent, stirring time and initial vanadium(V) concentration in aqueous solution on adsorption efficiency. The adsorption was highly pH dependent, and the optimal pH was 3.2. The weight ratio of magnetite nanoparticles to octylamine was studied in optimum pH, and the best result was 3 : 2. More than 88% of vanadium(V) in solution was removed by 38.4 mg of adsorbent. In kinetics studies, the adsorption equilibrium could be achieved within 10minutes, and the experimental data were well fitted by the pseudosecond-order model. Comparison of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models indicated a better fit of Langmuir model to the adsorption of vanadium(V) and the mono-layer adsorption capacity for vanadium(V) was 25.707 mg g−1.