Abstract
In this study, mesoporous magnetic iron-oxide (γ-Fe2O3) was synthesized as an adsorbent for Cr(VI) removal. For material synthesis, mesoporous silica (KIT-6) was used as a hard template and to drive iron precursor into KIT-6, a 'greener', affinity based impregnation method was employed, which involved using a nonpolar solvent (xylene) and led to recycling of the solvent. The results of Cr(VI) removal experiments showed that the synthesized mesoporous γ-Fe2O3 has a Cr(VI) adsorption capacity comparable with 10 nm nonporous γ-Fe2O3 but simultaneously has a much faster separation than 10 nm nonporous γ-Fe2O3 in the presence of an external magnetic field under the same experimental conditions. Cr(VI) adsorption capacity onto the mesoporous γ-Fe2O3 increased with decreasing solution pH and could be readily regenerated. Therefore, mesoporous γ-Fe2O3 presents a reusable adsorbent for a fast, convenient, and highly efficient removal of Cr(VI) from contaminated water.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 3727-3734 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Water research |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue number | 15 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 2009 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This research was supported by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Research Project Competition Program under grant RPC07/08.EG03.
Keywords
- Adsorption
- Chromium
- Magnetic separation
- Mesoporous iron-oxide
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Water Science and Technology
- Ecological Modeling
- Pollution
- Waste Management and Disposal
- Environmental Engineering
- Civil and Structural Engineering