Facile synthesis of chrysanthemum-like mesoporous α-FeOOH and its adsorptive behavior of antimony from aqueous solution

Abstract

A chrysanthemum-like mesoporous α-FeOOH was synthesized by hydrothermal method and was applied to remove Sb(V) from Sb(V)-contaminated aqueous solution. XRD, ATR-FTIR, and Raman Spectrum characteristics indicated that the pure α-FeOOH phase had been successfully synthesized. The morphology and pore structure were investigated by FE-SEM and N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms. The Sb(V) adsorption kinetics, isotherms, and mechanism on mesoporous α-FeOOH were studied. The results showed that Sb(V) adsorption on mesoporous α-FeOOH well-fitted pseudo-second-order kinetics and the maximum Sb(V) adsorption capacity of mesoporous α-FeOOH is 102.67 mg·g−1, which is much higher than most of iron-based adsorbents. The negative value of ΔG° and ΔH° indicated that the Sb(V) adsorption process on the mesoporous α-FeOOH was a spontaneous and exothermic. The adsorption mechanism can be attribute to the surface complexation between Sb(V) and the mesoporous α-FeOOH. These findings suggest that the mesoporous α-FeOOH is a potential adsorbent for Sb(V) removal from aqueous solution.