Removal and sequestration of iodide using silver-impregnated activated carbon

Two silver-impregnated activated carbons (SIACs) (0.05 and 1.05 wt % silver) and their virgin (i.e., unimpregnated) granular activated carbon (GAC) precursors were investigated for their ability to remove and sequester iodide from aqueous solutions in a series of batch sorption and leaching experiments. Silver content, total iodide concentration, and pH were the factors controlling the removal mechanisms of iodide. Iodide uptake increased with decreasing pH for both SIACs and their virgin GACs. The 0.05% SIAC behaved similarly to its virgin GAC in all experimental conditions because of its low silver content. At pH values of 7 and 8 there was a marked increased in iodide removal for the 1.05% SIAC over that of its virgin GAC, while their performances were similar at a pH of 5. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses prior to reaction with iodide showed the presence of metallic silver agglomerates on the 1.05% SIAC surface. After the reaction, elemental mapping with EDX showed the formation of silver iodide agglomerates. Oxidation of metallic silver was observed in the presence of oxygen, and the carbon surface appears to catalyze this reaction. When the molar ratio of silver to iodide was greater than 1 (i.e., M(Ag,SIAC) > M(I,TOTAL)), precipitation of silver iodide was the dominant removal mechanism. However, unreacted silver leached into solution with decreasing pH while iodide leaching did not occur. When M(Ag,SIAC) < M(I,TOTAL), silver iodide precipitation occurred until all available silver had reacted, and additional iodide was removed from solution by pH-dependent adsorption to the GAC. Under this condition, silver leaching did not occur while iodide leaching increased with increasing pH.