Abstract
Abstract Iron-embedded granular acicular mullite was synthesized and used to remove Cd(II) from water. Characterization of iron-embedded acicular mullite and its adsorption behavior for Cd(II) were studied with the commercial ceramsite as a comparison. Iron oxyhydroxide is successfully embedded into acicular mullite, but mainly hematite loaded on its counterpart. After iron embedment, the specific surface area, iron content and pore volume of acicular mullite vastly increase. The adsorption isothermal fits well by the Langmuir-Freundlich model. Based on the model, the maximum adsorption capacity (Qg) for Cd(II) on iron-embedded mullite is 2.808 mg/g, which is 8 times higher than the virgin acicular mullite and 3 times higher than the commercial ceramsite. Moreover, site energy distribution for Cd(II) adsorbed on iron-embedded mullite and commercial ceramsite were calculated to explore the adsorption mechanisms. The average site energy (µ(E*)) of Cd(II) adsorption on all samples is similar but the energy distribution frequency function F( E m * ) for Cd(II) adsorption on iron-embedded acicular mullite was 8 times higher than its counterpart. Consequently, this iron-embedded acicular mullite is efficient for the removal of Cd(II) in water and could be applied as advanced filter media on large scale.
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