Sorption of As(III) and As(V) on chemically synthesized manganese dioxide

Abstract

Sorption of As(III) and As(V) on manganese dioxide was studied by batch equilibration method using 76As radioactive tracer. Manganese dioxide was prepared by two different methods viz. reacting (a) KMnO4 solution with MnSO4 solution, and (b) KMnO4 solution with concentrated hydrochloric acid. Manganese dioxide was characterized by zeta potential measurement, surface area measurement, thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Point of zero charge (PZC) for manganese dioxide was between pH 3 and 4. Radioactive tracer (76As) was prepared by neutron irradiation of arsenious oxide in self serve facility of CIRUS reactor followed by conversion to As(III) and As(V), by appropriate chemical methods. Sorption of As(III) and As(V) were studied separately, between pH 1 to 11, using (i) freshly prepared, (ii) air-dried and (iii) aged manganese dioxide. Sorption of As(III) and As(V) on freshly prepared as well as aged manganese dioxide, from both the methods was greater than 98% between pH 1 to 9 and decreased above pH 9. Percentage sorption was comparable for manganese dioxide prepared by both the methods in different batches. Sorption capacity was ∼2 mg g−1 for both As(III) and As(V). Arsenic was desorbed from the manganese dioxide by 0.1 M sodium hydroxide and oxidation state of desorbed arsenic was determined by solvent extraction method. It was found that the desorbed arsenic was present in As(V) oxidation state, independent of the initial oxidation states. This simple and direct chemical evidence, establishing that As(III) is converted to As(V) by manganese dioxide, is reported for the first time. Sorption of As(III) and As(V) on manganese dioxide did not cause an increase in manganese concentration above solubility limit confirming that Mn2+, formed during oxidation of As(III) to As(V), was re-adsorbed.