Zirconium(IV) Loaded Bifunctional Fiber Containing Both Phosphonate and Sulfonate as Arsenate Adsorbent

Abstract

Fibrous arsenate adsorbent was prepared by loading Zr (IV) onto a bifunctional cation exchange fiber containing both phosphonate and sulfonate. This bifuctional cation exchange fiber was prepared by phosphorylation and sulfonation of the precursory fiber, which was obtained by co-graft polymerization of chloromethylstyrene and styrene onto polyethylene coated polypropylene fiber. Performances of the Zr (IV) loaded fiber as arsenate adsorbent was studied in columnar mode. The column packed with Zr (IV) loaded fiber removed arsenate from a weakly acidic pH solution containing 0.016 mM arsenate (1.2 mg of As dm-3) even at a flow rate of 200 h-1 in space velocity. Sodium salts of chloride, nitrate and sulfate did not interfere with uptake of arsenate but they slightly enhanced arsenate uptake. Adsorbed arsenate was quantitatively eluted with aqueous sodium hydroxide, and then the column was able to be regenerated by contact with dilute sulfuric acid for the next arsenate adsorption operation.