Abstract
Ground water samples from residential homes in three Regions of Ghana: Central, Greater Accra and Ashanti, were analyzed for iron and manganese contamination. The samples were exposed to characterized zeolite Y by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transformed-infrared spectroscopy and thermos gravimetric-differential thermal analysis. Zeolite Y is able to remove 98% of iron and 97% of manganese within an hour. The adsorption of both iron and manganese followed the Freundlich model, suggesting that the ions were transported onto the zeolite Y surface and subsequently diffused into the zeolite Y framework. The kinetic studies showed that pseudo-first order and intra particle and film diffusion models provided the best fit. The adsorption at 0.2 mg L−1 Fe ( Q 0.2 ) is calculated to be 0.023 mg g−1 for the Freundlich adsorption model, whilst that of manganese at 0.05 mg L−1 Mn ( Q 0.05 ) is evaluated to be 0.015 mg g−1. The zeolite retains its adsorption properties when retrieved from the first exposure water sample, washed copiously with distilled water and added to fresh water samples. The results suggest that zeolite Y can be used as a potential adsorbent for the removal of iron and manganese from groundwater.
Highlights
Iron and manganese occur in dissolved forms as single ions (Fe2+, Mn2+ ) or in undissolved higher forms mainly as Fe(II) or Mn(II), respectively [1]
The results suggest that zeolite Y can be used as a potential adsorbent for the removal of iron and manganese from groundwater
Mn adsorption onto adsorbent consisted of two phases: An initial rapid adsorption phase that continued at least plot ofconsisted adsorption versus showed the kinetics ofthat the Fe and Mn adsorption onto The adsorbent ofcapacity two phases: Antime initial rapid that adsorption phase continued forfor at least
Summary
Iron and manganese occur in dissolved forms as single ions (Fe2+ , Mn2+ ) or in undissolved higher forms mainly as Fe(II) or Mn(II), respectively [1] Both metals are common elements found in the earth’s crust [2], and are two of the most common pollutants found in both surface and groundwater, but predominantly in the latter [3,4], reaching the ground water by the rain, surface and waste water filtration dissolving minerals from soil strata. Iron may be present as a result of the use of the iron coagulants of the corrosion of steel and cast iron pipes during ground water extraction and distribution [5,6] Both elements can be commonly found in natural water in concentrations up to
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