Effect of the mole ratio of Mn/Fe composites on arsenic (V) adsorption

Iron and manganese have been studied as a proposal for new materials that could be used for the adsorption of arsenic (V) (As (V)), in order to remove this contaminant. The objective of this work was to study the effect of the molar ratio of three Mn/Fe+Mn composites (X=0.17, 0.32, 0.47) on the properties of adsorbent media, and to determine their influence on arsenic removal by comparing them with two metallic oxyhydroxides, that are commonly used as adsorbents of As(V) in aqueous solution (goethite and birnessite). These media were synthesized by chemical precipitation while controlling particle size. They were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XDR), scanning electron microscopy with X-ray dispersive energy spectrometry (SEM-EDS), surface area analysis by the BET method, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and isoelectric point analysis (IEP). The surface area (286m²/g) of the composite with a molar ratio of X=0.17 was larger than that of the other media. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms were fitted to the mathematical models, specifically, the pseudo-second order and Langmuir, respectively. The X=017 composite had an adsorption capacity of 3.28mg/g and removed 99% of As(V) with an initial concentration of 0.5 and 97% with an initial concentration of 10mg/L, at 180min, 25°C, and pH7. The five adsorbent media were tested with well water with an initial As(V) concentration of 0.075mg/L, and the best behavior was exhibited with a molar ratio of X=0.17 at 90min, resulting in 100% removal of As(V). The results suggest that this material is an effective and viable alternative to remove this contaminant from water.