Environment and Natural Resources Journal (Dec 2017)

Fast and Efficient Removal of Hexavalent Chromium from Water by Iron Oxide Particles

  • Duangta Kitkaew,
  • Athit Phetrak,
  • Sumate Ampawong,
  • Rachaneekorn Mingkhwan,
  • Doungkamon Phihusut,
  • Kamolnetr Okanurak,
  • Chongrak Polprasert

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14456/ennrj.2018.9
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 1
pp. 91 – 100

Abstract

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Iron oxide particles (IOPs) were synthesized by chemical co-precipitation technique and further used as an adsorbent in removing hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) from aqueous solutions during batch adsorption. The IOP adsorbent had specific surface area of 65 m2/g, total pore volume of 0.25 cm3/g and mostly contained a mesoporous structure. The analysis of scanning and transmission electron microscopy indicated that the adsorbent contained a substantial amount of iron oxide of about 66%, which was well distributed throughout the adsorbent. The IOP adsorbent showed a rapid and efficient Cr(VI) removal that followed Langmuir adsorption isotherm model with maximum adsorption capacity of 2.39 mg-Cr(VI)/g-IOP, demonstrating a monolayer formation on the adsorptive sites of IOP. The kinetic adsorption of Cr(VI) on the IOP followed the pseudo-second-order model, suggesting chemisorption. Thus, the IOP adsorbent provides a potentially effective technology in eliminating of Cr(VI) from water since it can remove appreciable amounts of Cr(VI) with a relatively short contact time of 30 min.

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