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Arsenic adsorption from aqueous solutions by activated red mud.
H Soner Altundoğan1, Sema Altundoğan, Fikret Tümen
1Firat University, Department of Chemical Engineering, Elaziğ, Turkey. saltundogen@firat.edu.tr
Waste Management (New York, N.Y.)
|April 16, 2002
Summary
Acid treatment enhances red mud's ability to remove arsenic from water. Activated red mud effectively adsorbs both arsenic (As(III)) and arsenate (As(V)) across various pH levels, offering a promising solution for arsenic contamination.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Materials Science
- Water Treatment
Background:
- Red mud, a byproduct of alumina production, contains potentially toxic elements.
- Arsenic contamination in water poses significant environmental and health risks.
- Developing cost-effective adsorbents for arsenic removal is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effectiveness of acid treatment on red mud for enhanced arsenic adsorption.
- To characterize the arsenic adsorption behavior of activated red mud for both As(III) and As(V).
- To determine optimal conditions and understand the adsorption mechanism.
Main Methods:
- Red mud was treated with acid to activate its adsorption properties.
- Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to evaluate arsenic removal efficiency.
- Adsorption kinetics and isotherms were analyzed to understand the process and thermodynamics.
Main Results:
- Acid treatment significantly increased the arsenic adsorption capacity of red mud.
- Activated red mud effectively removed As(III) and As(V) within specific pH ranges (5.8-7.5 for As(III), 1.8-3.5 for As(V)).
- Maximum removal efficiencies reached 96.52% for As(V) and 87.54% for As(III) under optimal conditions.
- Adsorption followed a first-order rate and fitted the Langmuir isotherm model.
- As(III) adsorption was exothermic, while As(V) adsorption was endothermic.
Conclusions:
- Acid-activated red mud is a viable and effective adsorbent for removing arsenic species from aqueous solutions.
- The study provides critical data on optimal conditions and adsorption mechanisms for practical application.
- This research offers a sustainable approach to red mud valorization and water purification.