pH-dependent effect of zinc on arsenic adsorption to magnetite nanoparticles

The effect of Zn(2+) on both the kinetic and equilibrium aspects of arsenic adsorption to magnetite nanoparticles was investigated at pH 4.5-8.0. At pH 8.0, adsorption of both arsenate and arsenite to magnetite nanoparticles was significantly enhanced by the presence of small amount of Zn(2+) in the solution. With less than 3 mg/L of Zn(2+) added to the arsenic solution prior to the addition of magnetite nanoparticles, the percentage of arsenic removal by magnetite nanoparticles increased from 66% to over 99% for arsenate, and from 80% to 95% for arsenite from an initial concentration of ∼100 μg/L As at pH 8.0. Adsorption rate also increased significantly in the presence of Zn(2+). The adsorption-enhancement effect of Zn(2+) was not observed at pH 4.5-6.0, nor with ZnO nanoparticles, nor with surface-coated Zn-magnetite nanoparticles. The enhanced arsenic adsorption in the presence of Zn(2+) cannot be due to reduced negative charge of the magnetite nanoparticles surface by zinc adsorption. Other cations, such as Ca(2+) and Ag(+), failed to enhance arsenic adsorption. Several potential mechanisms that could have caused the enhanced adsorption of arsenic have been tested and ruled out. Formation of a ternary surface complex by zinc, arsenic and magnetite nanoparticles is a possible mechanism controlling the observed zinc effect. Zinc-facilitated adsorption provides further advantage for magnetite nanoparticle-enhanced arsenic removal over conventional treatment approaches.

Arsenic adsorption to magnetite nanoparticles at neutral or slightly basic pH can be significantly enhanced with trace amount of Zn(2+) due to the formation of a ternary complex.