Abstract
This study reports on the adsorption efficiency of a natural iron oxide from Mballam-Cameroon in comparison with synthesized goethite to simulta-neously remove cobalt and nickel ions from aqueous solutions. Chemical analysis on the natural iron oxide sample revealed iron as the main element and hematite (58.52%) goethite (19.42%), kaolinite (12.69%) and quartz (7.79%) as the component phases in the iron oxide sample. The iron oxide was found to be microporous (BET surface area 43.27 m2/g) with fairly spherical polydisperse particles. Results show maximum absorption for Co(II) and Ni(II) ions for both adsorbents occurred at an equilibrium contact time of 80 mins, dose rate of 0.1 g/L, and pH = 7. Goethite was slightly more efficient at removing target metal ions with maximal adsorbed quantities at 117.8 mg/g of Co(II) and 100.6 mg/g of Ni(II), and 103.9 mg/g of Co(II) and 85.2 mg/g of Ni(II) ions for natural iron oxide. Equilibrium modelling presented the Freundlich isotherm as the best fit model for both adsorbents and metal ions, indicating heterogeneity of the surface binding sites during adsorption. The pseudo-second order kinetic model was the best-fit model, indicating chemical adsorption between the adsorbent surface and metal ions, hence a good correlation between equilibrium and kinetics. The findings indicate that the efficacy of the natural iron oxide from Mballam is almost equivalent to that of synthetic goethite, validating its applicability for the simultaneous removal of cobalt and nickel ions from aqueous solution.
Highlights
One of the most significant environmental aspects of mining is its effects on water quality and on the availability of water resources
This study reports on the adsorption efficiency of a natural iron oxide from Mballam-Cameroon in comparison with synthesized goethite to simultaneously remove cobalt and nickel ions from aqueous solutions
The findings indicate that the efficacy of the natural iron oxide from Mballam is almost equivalent to that of synthetic goethite, validating its applicability for the simultaneous removal of cobalt and nickel ions from aqueous solution
Summary
One of the most significant environmental aspects of mining is its effects on water quality and on the availability of water resources. Mining activities categorically pollute water bodies [1] They affect fresh and surface water through heavy use of water in processing ore (fresh water withdrawal) and pollution from discharged mine effluent [2], during beneficiation and leaching of toxic materials from tailings and waste rock impoundments [3]. In addition to pollution from targeted metal and other metal by-products, sulfuric acid is produced and leached when sulfide containing rock (from waste dumps, overburden dump and tailings dam) is exposed to air or water and may contaminate ground and surface waters [4] [5] [6]. In a scenario where a mine is exploited for cobalt and nickel, such as the Nkamouna Cobalt-Nickel-Manganese Project by GEOVIC Cameroon, these metals may be leached into the surrounding waters, resulting to pollution of these water bodies, which has a direct effect on the aquatic life, animals and on man
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