Adsorption of chromium (VI)‎ from an aqueous solution by the nano-zerovalent iron-activated sepiolite composite adsorbent

Abstract EN

In this work, nano-zerovalent iron was deposited onto sepiolite (SEP) or acid-activated sepiolite (AAS) at different mass ratio in order to obtain efficient adsorbents for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous media.

The composites were synthesized at support/nZVI ratios of 10:1, 5:1, 2.5:1 and 2:1.

The removal of Cr(VI) was investigated at initial pH = 2.

Through of the fabrication, the support suspension was ultrasound treated to deagglomerate it before nZVI deposition.

Results of TEM analysis showed that better dispersibility of nZVI was achieved with SEP-based composites, but AAS-based composites had higher removal efficiency.

Higher efficiency of Cr(VI) removal was achieved when the higher content of nZVI in the composites.

AAS/nZVI Composite with the ration 2:1 provided the best removal of Cr(VI).