Arsenate Removal from Aqueous Media by Nanosized Hydrated Ferric Oxide (HFO)-Loaded Polymeric Sorbents: Effect of HFO Loadings

Abstract

Hydrated ferric oxide-loaded hybrid sorbents are of considerable concern for arsenic removal from waters. In the current study, several nanosized hydrated ferric oxide (HFO)-loaded polymer sorbents were prepared and assayed to examine the effect of HFO loadings on arsenate sorption from aqueous solution. Batch and column sorption studies showed that the sorption capacity of arsenate increased with the increase of HFO loadings from 3 to 15% (in Fe mass); however, a further increase in the HFO loadings resulted in a dramatic decrease of the sorption capacity. At relatively low arsenate levels (e.g., <1 mg/L), sorbents with lower HFO loadings exhibited higher distribution coefficients (Kd) than others, implying that HFO loaded at a relatively lower level exhibits stronger sorption affinity toward arsenate than the larger one. However, at relatively high arsenate levels, the sorbent with HFO loading of 15% displayed the highest sorption capacity. Additionally, all the exhausted sorbents are amenable to an eff...