Preparation of desulfurization adsorbents with highly dispersed metal active sites by enriching Ni from water with Pistia Stratiotes

Abstract

The large-scale development of metal-loaded adsorbents is restricted due to complicated preparation methods, poor dispersion of metal particles, and small specific surface area. Pistia stratiotes (PS) has a unique biological vein structure; it can adsorb and fix nickel evenly in its organism. The prepared high-performance desulfurization adsorbent PSAC-Ni(X) and loaded Ni nanoparticles are more uniform and smaller in diameter. However, in the control experiment, the dispersion and diameter of Ni particles of PSLAC@Ni prepared by the impregnation method were all lesser than that of PSAC-Ni(X). PSLAC@Ni had an adsorption desulfurization capacity of only 53 mg g−1. PS was cultured in four different Ni concentration solutions since the Ni concentration gradually decreases with the absorption of Ni by PS. Then the leaves and roots of the corresponding plants were prepared into leaf-based adsorbents and root-based adsorbents, respectively. The adsorption desulfurization test showed that the adsorption desulfurization capacity of the leaf-based adsorbent and the root-based adsorbent of the plants cultivated in the four kinds of Ni concentration solutions were 113, 108, 111, and 111 mg g−1. This demonstrates that the desulfurization capacity of the adsorbent prepared by this method does not change significantly with varying Ni content in the solution. This method not only produces high-performance desulfurization adsorbent from PS, but it also degrades heavy metals in water, playing a double role in the development of a green and friendly environment.