Application of visible light activated thiolated cobalt doped ZnO nanoparticles towards arsenic removal from aqueous systems

Abstract

Populations at large are exposed towards Arsenic (As) contamination in water worldwide making it unfit for drinking and human consumption. This study was designed to assess As removal efficiency of newly developed thiolated chitosan cobalt-doped zinc oxide (CoZnO) nanoparticles (NP) under visible light spectrum. In this study the Co-ZnO NP of various sizes (40–60 nm) were prepared through the co-precipitation method. Removal of As with Co-ZnO NP was investigated in batch tests experiments alongside determining the optimal dose of NP, kinetic rates, effect of light, pH and ultra-sonication. This was followed by a continuous flow test with Co-ZnO layered on Whatman® grade 42 filter paper. Overall, the Co-ZnO NP effectively treated As i.e. in sunlight (100%), neutral pH (100%), ultra-sonication (100%) and in continuous-flow system (100%). The removal of As was maximum (88%) at NP:As ratio of < 1:5 and minimum (25%) at 1:100. Similarly, darkness (21.4%) and (11.1%) uptake at low and high pH respectively. It was found that Co-ZnO NP can efficiently reduce As to non-toxic state i.e. below the WHO permissible limit of (10 µg/L) in drinking water.