Abstract
Coagulation and precipitation appear to be the most efficient and economical methods for the removal of antimony from aqueous solution. In this study, antimony removal from synthetic water and Fe solubility with ferric chloride (FC) coagulation has been investigated. The effects of pH, FC dosage, initial antimony loading and mixed Sb(III), Sb(V) proportions on Fe solubility and antimony removal were studied. The results showed that the Sb(III) removal efficiency increased with the increase of solution pH particularly due to an increase in Fe precipitation. The Sb(V) removal was influenced by the solution pH due to a change in Fe solubility. However, the Fe solubility was only impaired by the Sb(III) species at optimum pH 7. The removal efficiencies of both Sb species were enhanced with an increase in FC dose. The quantitative analysis of the isotherm study revealed the strong adsorption potential of Sb(III) on Fe precipitates as compared to Sb(V). Furthermore, the removal behavior of antimony was inhibited in mixed proportion with high Sb(V) fraction. In conclusion, this study contributes to better understanding the fate of Sb species, their mobilities, and comparative removal behavior, with implications for Fe solubility using ferric chloride in different aqueous environments.
Highlights
Antimony, a metalloid, is the fourth element of group VA of the periodic table, and usually found in soils and water due to natural and anthropogenic sources
Under an acidic condition, i.e., pH 4–5, a relatively small amount of Fe precipitates dissociates in solution when compared with ferric chloride (FC) only
Our study demonstrated the Fe solubility behavior and Sb removal under different aqueous matrices
Summary
A metalloid, is the fourth element of group VA of the periodic table, and usually found in soils and water due to natural and anthropogenic sources. Worldwide reserves of antimony are 4–5 million metric tons [1,2]. It is produced globally in very large quantities i.e., 165,000 tons per year [3,4] with 80% of its total production taking place in China [1]. Antimony contamination in soils and water have been detected around power plants, smelting, and mining, shooting-range soils and roadsides containing dust from tires and brake pads [7,9,10,11,12,13]. Groundwater near abandoned Sb mines in Slovakia presented Sb levels up to 1000 μg/L [14]; while water bodies near anthropogenic sources contain higher concentrations of antimony pollution. The level of Sb detected in wastewater from a metal industry facility in Korea was
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