Effect of competing solutes on arsenic(V) adsorption using iron and aluminum oxides

Abstract

Abstract The study focused on the effect of several typical competing solutes on removal of arsenic with Fe 2O 3 and Al 2O 3. The test results indicate that chloride, nitrate and sulfate did not have detectable effects, and that selenium(IV) (Se(IV)) and vanadium(V) (V(V)) showed slight effects on the adsorption of As(V) with Fe 2O 3. The results also showed that adsorption of As(V) on Al 2O 3 was not affected by chloride and nitrate anions, but slightly by Se(IV) and V(V) ions. Unlike the adsorption of As(V) with Fe 2O 3, that with Fe 2O 3 was affected by the presence of sulfate in water solutions. Both phosphate and silica have significant adverse effects on the adsorption of As(V) adsorption with Fe 2O 3 and Al 2O 3. Compared to the other tested anions, phosphate anion was found to be the most prominent solute affecting the As(V) adsorption with Fe 2O 3 and Al 2O 3. In general, Fe 2O 3 has a better performance than Al 2O 3 in removal of As(V) within a water environment where multi competing solutes are present.