Physicochemical characterization of the retardation of aqueous Cs+ ions by natural kaolinite and clinoptilolite minerals

The aim of this study was to carry out kinetic, thermodynamic, and surface characterization of the sorption of Cs+ ions on natural minerals of kaolinite and clinoptilolite. The results showed that sorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. The activation energies were 9.5 and 13.9 kJ/mol for Cs+ sorption on kaolinite and clinoptilolite, respectively. Experiments performed at four different initial concentrations of the ion revealed that the percentage sorption of Cs+ on clinoptilolite ranged from 90 to 95, compared to 28 to 40 for the kaolinite case. At the end of a 1 week period, the percentage of Cs+ desorption from clinoptilolite did not exceed 7%, while it amounted to more than 30% in kaolinite, indicating more stable fixation by clinoptilolite. The sorption data were best described using Freundlich and D-R isotherm models. Sorption showed spontaneous and exothermic behavior on both minerals, with deltaH(0) being -6.3 and -11.4 kJ/mol for Cs+ uptake by kaolinite and clinoptilolite, respectively. Expanding the kaolinite interlayer space from 0.71 to 1.12 nm using DMSO intercalation, did not yield a significant enhancement in the sorption capacity of kaolinite, indicating that the surface and edge sites of the clay are more energetically favored. EDS mapping and elemental analysis of the surface of kaolinite and clinoptilolite revealed more intense signals on the surface of the latter with an even distribution of sorbed Cs+ onto the surfaces of both minerals.     

Effect of iron oxide coatings on zinc sorption mechanisms at the clay-mineral/water interface

Oxide surface coatings are ubiquitous in the environment, but their effect on the intrinsic metal uptake mechanism by the underlying mineral surface is poorly understood. In this study, the zinc (Zn) sorption complexes formed at the kaolinite, goethite, and goethite-coated kaolinite surfaces, were systematically studied as a function of pH, aging time, surface loading, and the extent of goethite coating, using extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. At pH 5.0, Zn partitioned to all sorbents by specific chemical binding to hydroxyl surface sites. At pH 7.0, the dominant sorption mechanism changed with reaction time. At the kaolinite surface, Zn was incorporated into a mixed metal Zn-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH). At the goethite surface, Zn initially formed a monodentate inner-sphere adsorption complex, with typical Zn-Fe distances of 3.18 A. However, with increasing reaction time, the major Zn sorption mechanism shifted to the formation of a zinc hydroxide surface precipitate, with characteristic Zn-Zn bond distances of 3.07 A. At the goethite-coated kaolinite surface, Zn initially bonded to FeOH groups of the goethite coating. With increasing aging time however, the inclusion of Zn into a mixed Zn-Al LDH took over as the dominant sorption mechanism. These results suggest that the formation of a precipitate phase at the kaolinite surface is thermodynamically favored over adsorption to the goethite coating. These findings show that the formation of Zn precipitates, similar in structure to brucite, at the pristine kaolinite, goethite, and goethite-coated kaolinite surfaces at near neutral pH and over extended reaction times is an important attenuation mechanism of metal contaminants in the environment.     

Removal of radiocobalt from aqueous solutions by kaolinite affected by solid content, pH, ionic strength, contact time and temperature

The kaolinite sample was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray powder diffraction, and was applied as adsorbent for the removal of radiocobalt ions from radioactive wastewater. The results demonstrated that the sorption of Co(II) was strongly dependent on pH and ionic strength at low pH values, and independent of pH and ionic strength at high pH values. The sorption of Co(II) was dominated by outer-sphere surface complexation or ion exchange at low pH values, whereas inner-sphere surface complexation was the main sorption mechanism at high pH values. The sorption isotherms were well described by Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin–Radushkevich models. The thermodynamic parameters (i.e., ΔG°, ΔS°, ΔH°) calculated from the temperature-dependent sorption isotherms indicated that the sorption of Co(II) on kaolinite was an endothermic and spontaneous process. The results of high sorption capacity of kaolinite suggested that the kaolinite sample was a suitable material for the preconcentration of Co(II) from large volumes of aqueous solutions and as backfill materials in nuclear waste management.     

Application of neutron activation analysis for mercury species determination in scalp hair samples from Malaysia, Libya and Jordan

The sorption of Ba²⁺ ion on natural kaolinite and chlorite-illite clays was investigated at different initial concentrations and temperatures using the radiotracer method. The sorption data were well described by Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherms. Ba²⁺ sorption on both clays showed an exothermic behavior with ΔH° (kJ/mol) values being -7 and -5 for sorption on kaolinite and chlorite illite mixed clay, respectively. The ΔG° values indicate that the sorption was spontaneous with sorption energies corresponding to ion-exchange type sorption. X-ray diffraction studies showed that no significant change in the matrix of the clays occurred upon Ba²⁺ sorption. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

蒙脱土和高岭土对Pb2+的吸附

选择带结构负电荷的蒙脱土和带微量结构负电荷的高岭土,研究了其对Pb2+的吸附性能,并探讨了吸附机理。 研究表明,蒙脱土和高岭土吸附Pb2+的动力学曲线符合准二级动力学方程,吸附等温线符合Langmuir方程。 Pb2+同时以内层络合和外层配合形式吸附,其相对量与pH值有关。 在pH值小于4和大于8的范围内,以内层配合物为主;而pH值在4～8范围内外层配合物比例增大。 Pb2+能进入蒙脱土的层间,而不能进入高岭土的层间;部分Pb2+可进入黏土颗粒的微孔中被固定。 蒙脱土对Pb2+的吸附能力和饱和吸附量明显高于高岭土。     

Characterization of modified clinoptilolite

Samples of clinoptilolite were modified using insoluble hexacyanoferrate from aqueous solution. The modified samples were characterized by elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, solid state NMR and vibrational spectroscopy. The sorption properties of modified clinoptilolite were studied, too. Higher affinity for¹³⁷Cs sorption in comparison with the natural clinoptilolite has been proved.     

Electrochemical insertion of lithium in mechanochemically synthesized Zn2SnO4

We studied the electrochemical insertion of Li in mechanochemically prepared Zn(2)SnO(4). The mechanism of the electrochemical reaction was investigated by using X-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and M?ssbauer spectroscopy. Changes in the morphology of the Zn(2)SnO(4) particles were studied by in situ scanning electron microscopy. The results were compared with mixtures of SnO(2) + ZnO and with Zn(2)SnO(4) prepared by conventional solid-state synthesis and showed that the mechanochemically prepared Zn(2)SnO(4) exhibits the best cyclic stability of these samples.     

Column chromatographic separation of metal ions on 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-napthol modified amberlite IR-120 resin

Cation exchange resin, Amberlite IR-120, has been modified by the sorption of 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-napthol (PAN) at pH 6.0. The optimum conditions for the sorption of PAN on the resin have been established. The maximum sorption of PAN was found to be 8.70 micromol/g. In order to explore the separation possibilities of the material, distribution coefficients of a number of metal ions were determined in various solvent systems. A number of binary separations of metal ions of analytical interest have been carried out using columns packed with this material. In order to demonstrate the practical utility of this material, Zn2+ and Hg2+ have been selectively separated from synthetic mixtures of metal ions and assay of Zn2+ and Fe2+ in commercially available pharmaceutical tablets; namely Fesofor-Z and FE-Z, was carried out.     

ToF-SIMS depth profiling analysis of the uptake of Ba2+ and Co2+ ions by natural kaolinite clay

The sorption behavior of Ba(2+) and Co(2+) ions on a natural clay sample rich in kaolinite was studied using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). Depth profiling at 10-A steps was performed up to a 70-A matrix depth of the clay prior to and following sorption. The results showed that Co(2+) is sorbed in slightly larger quantities than Ba(2+), with significant numbers of ions fixed on the outermost surface of the clay. Depletion of the ions K(+), Mg(2+), and Ca(2+) from the clay lattice was observed to accompany enrichment with Co(2+) and Ba(2+) ions. The data obtained using X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated insignificant structural and morphological changes in the lattice of the clay upon sorption of both Ba(2+) and Co(2+) ions. Analysis using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) showed that the average atomic percentage (+/-S.D.) of Ba and Co on kaolinite surface were 0.49 +/- 0.11 and 0.61 +/- 0.19 , respectively, indicating a limited uptake capacity of natural kaolinite for both ions.     

Kinetics and mechanisms of Zn complexation on metal oxides using EXAFS spectroscopy

Zn(II) sorption onto Al and Si oxides was studied as a function of pH (5.1-7.52), sorption density, and ionic strength. This study was carried out to determine the role of the various reaction conditions and sorbent phases in Zn complexation at oxide surfaces. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy was used to probe the Zn atomic environment at the metal oxide/aqueous interface. For both amorphous silica and high-surface-area gibbsite, Zn sorption kinetics were rapid and reached completion within 24 h. In contrast, Zn sorption on low-surface-area-gibbsite was much slower, taking nearly 800 h for a sorption plateau to be reached. In the case of silica, EXAFS revealed that Zn was in octahedral coordination with first-shell oxygen atoms up to a surface loading of approximately 1 micro molm(-2), changing to tetrahedral coordination as surface loading and pH increased. For the high-surface-area gibbsite system, the Znz.sbnd;O first-shell distance was intermediate between values for tetrahedral and octahedral coordination over all loading levels. Zn formed inner-sphere adsorption complexes on both silica and high-surface-area gibbsite over all reaction conditions. For Zn sorption on low-surface-area gibbsite, formation of Znz.sbnd;Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) occurred and was the cause for the observed slow Zn sorption kinetics. The highest pH sample (7.51) in the Zn-amorphous silica system resulted in the formation of an amorphous Zn(OH)(2) precipitate with tetrahedral coordination between Zn and O. Aging the reaction samples did not alter the Zn complex in any of the systems. The results of this study indicate the variability of Zn complexation at surfaces prevalent in soil and aquatic systems and the importance of combining macroscopic observations with methods capable of determining metal complex formation mechanisms.     

Ammonium sorption from aqueous solutions by the natural zeolite Transcarpathian clinoptilolite studied under dynamic conditions

The scope of this study is ammonium-ion uptake from synthetic aqueous solutions onto raw and pretreated forms of the natural zeolite Transcarpathian clinoptilolite under dynamic conditions. Hydrogen ions displaced exchangeable cations on the clinoptilolite in distilled water (sodium ions) and hydrochloric acid (sodium, potassium, and calcium ions) and destroyed the zeolite framework structure in the last case. Ammonium uptake onto the zeolite occurs by exchange with Na(+), Ca(2+), and K(+) ions. Although Na(+) ions were observed to be more easily exchanged for both hydrogen and ammonium ions, the role of Ca(2+) ions increased with zeolite saturation by NH(+)(4) ions. The maximum sorption capacity of the clinoptilolite toward NH(+)(4) ions, estimated under dynamic conditions, is significantly higher than that measured under static conditions; proximity of the values of a distribution coefficient and a retardation factor for different conditions (215-265 dm(3)/kg and 979-1107, respectively) allows us to use these parameters to model ammonium uptake onto the clinoptilolite. Slowing down or interruption in filtration resulted in the improvement of ammonium sorption properties of the zeolite. The ammonium removal improves with use of the finer fractions of the clinoptilolite up to 0.35 mm. A recycling study results confirmed the importance of external diffusion for ammonium sorption by the clinoptilolite. Preliminary treatment of the sorbent confirmed the predominant importance of the ion-exchange mechanism. The advantage of prior NaCl treatment of the clinoptilolite in improvement of ammonium removal over the other techniques was shown.     

Study of NaOH-treated clinoptilolites and their physical and ion-exchange characteristics with regard to Cs+ and Co2+

The ion-exchange ability of NaOH-treated clinoptilolites with regard to Cs⁺ and Co²⁺ have been studied by a radiochemical method, enabling to calculate the sorption coefficient. The surface characteristics, total cation exchange capacity and X-ray structural analysis were measured as well. The measurements were done on Slovak clinoptilolite. Comment are made on a possible explanation of increasing sorption coefficient.     

Sorption characteristics of uranium onto composite ion exchangers

The composite ion exchangers were tested for their ability to remove UO₂ ²⁺ from aqueous solutions. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) composites having natural zeolite, clinoptilolite, and synthetic zeolite, zeolite X, were used as an adsorbents. The influences of pH, U(VI) concentration, temperature and contact time on the sorption behavior of U(VI) were investigated in order to gain a macroscopic understanding of the sorption mechanism. The optimum adsorption conditions were determined for two composites. The sorption behaviors of uranium on both composites from aqueous systems have been studied by batch technique. Parameters on desorption were also investigated to recover the adsorbed uranium.     

Evaluation of sorption of uranium onto metakaolin using X-ray photoelectron and Raman spectroscopies

Metakaolin prepared from a natural clay mineral ore of aluminium kaolinite is a promising low cost and high activity aluminosilicate material that has been investigated for studying the sorption behavior of uranium. Here, metakaolin was characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and the effects of pH, contact time and initial metal ion concentration on its sorption behavior were studied. The sorption process was found to initially be rapid (∼60% at time 0 min) but became slower with time; equilibrium was established within 24 h (∼80% sorption). The data were applied to study the kinetics of the sorption process. The Langmuir and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) sorption isotherms were used to describe partitioning behavior for the system at room temperature. The binding of metal ions was found to be pH dependent, with optimal sorption occurring at pH 5. The retained metal ions were eluted with 5 mL of 0.1 M HNO₃. Raman spectroscopy and XPS were used to evaluate the sorption mechanism of U(VI).     

Sorption behavior of Co2+, Zn2+ and Ba2+ ions on alumina,kaolinite and magnesite

The sorption behavior of Ba²⁺, Co²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions on alumina, kaolinite and magnesite have been investigated using the batch method.⁶⁰Co,⁶⁵Zn and¹³³Ba were used as radiotracers. The mineral samples were separated into different particle size fractions using an Andreasen Pipette. The particle sizes used in the sorption experiments were all less than 38 m. Synthetic groundwaters were used which had compositions similar to those from the regions where the minerals were recovered. The samples were shaken with a lateral shaker at 190 rpm, the phases were separated by centrifuging and adioactivity counted using a NaI(Tl) detector. Kinetic studies indicated that sorption onto the minerals took place in two stages with the slower process dominating. The highest sorption was observed on alumina. Both Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich type isotherms were found to describe the sorption process well. The distribution ratio,R _d was found to be a function of the liquid volume to solid mass ratio. TheR _d 's for sorption on binary mixtures of minerals were experimentally determined and compared with those predicted fromR _d values of each individual mineral.     

Study of the selection mechanism of heavy metal (Pb2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, and Cd2+) adsorption on clinoptilolite

The study was carried out on the sorption of heavy metals (Ni2+, Cu2+, Pb2+, and Cd2+) under static conditions from single- and multicomponent aqueous solutions by raw and pretreated clinoptilolite. The sorption has an ion-exchange nature and consists of three stages, i.e., the adsorption on the surface of microcrystals, the inversion stage, and the moderate adsorption in the interior of the microcrystal. The finer clinoptilolite fractions sorb higher amounts of the metals due to relative enriching by the zeolite proper and higher cleavage. The slight difference between adsorption capacity of the clinoptilolite toward lead, copper, and cadmium from single- and multicomponent solutions may testify to individual sorption centers of the zeolite for each metal. The decrease of nickel adsorption from multicomponent solutions is probably caused by the propinquity of its sorption forms to the other metals and by competition. The maximum sorption capacity toward Cd2+ is determined as 4.22 mg/g at an initial concentration of 80 mg/L and toward Pb2+, Cu2+, and Ni2+ as 27.7, 25.76, and 13.03 mg/g at 800 mg/L. The sorption results fit well to the Langmuir and the Freundlich models. The second one is better for adsorption modeling at high metal concentrations.     

Studies of natural kaolinite and its modified forms

Modified forms of the natural and annealed at 700°C kaolinite have been fabricated by treatment using hydrochloric acid of different concentrations. The resulting samples were investigated using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, IR spectroscopy, and positron annihilation spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, etc. The dependencies of elements contents, dye adsorption, specific surface area, and specific internal volume on the concentration of hydrochloric acid have been determined. It has been demonstrated that the changes in the structure of annealed kaolinite were significantly increased by the increase of the concentration of acid, and also there were proportional changes in the values of specific surface area, internal volume, and dye adsorption. Changes in the structural parameters of natural kaolinite depend on the acid concentration in a less degree. Modification with acid results in obtaining solutions that contain metal chlorides. Precipitation of these metals in the form of oxides on the surface of kaolinite particles results in fabrication of new sorbents, whose yield is close to the quantitative one, whereas the kaolinite sorption characteristics become improved. Further kaolinite modification by cellulose under similar conditions results in fabrication of a new, more efficient sorbent. It has been demonstrated that natural kaolinite treated with 12% hydrochloric acid had lower friction coefficient than the annealed one.     

Copper and zinc removal from aqueous solution by mixed mineral systems I. Reactivity and removal kinetics

This study investigates the reactivity and removal kinetics of Cu and Zn onto mixed mineral systems from aqueous solution related to acid mine drainage impacted areas. The sorbents used were kaolinite, Al-montmorillonite, goethite, and their mixtures. The effects of surface charge, proton coefficient, and sorption kinetics were studied at room temperature (23+/-2 degrees C). Using an empirical model, mineral mixing reduced the exchange of protons for sorbing ions and the acidity of the reactive sites, thus impeding Cu and Zn removal by proton exchange. Based on the amount of Cu and Zn sorbed on the mixed mineral suspensions at ionic strength 0.01 to 0.1 M and pH 4, it is suggested that Cu and Zn removal from aqueous solution was by both inner and outer sphere complexation. Mineral mixing reduced the transfer rate of Cu relative to the single mineral suspensions in both slow and fast reaction phases. The behavior of the mixed suspensions in Cu and Zn sorption suggest that different reactive sites were involved at the onset of sorption, becoming similar to those of the single mineral components over time.     

Adsorption and Precipitation of Aqueous Zn(II) on Alumina Powders

The products of aqueous Zn(II) sorption on high-surface-area alumina powders (Linde-A) have been studied using XAFS spectroscopy as a function of Zn(II) sorption density (Gamma=0.2 to 3.3 μmol/m(2)) at pH values of 7.0 to 8.2. Over equilibration times of 15-111 h, we find that at low sorption densities (Gamma=0.2-1.1 μmol/m(2)) Zn(II) forms predominantly inner-sphere bidentate surface complexes with AlO(6) polyhedra, whereas at higher sorption densities (Gamma=1.5 to 3.5 μmol/m(2)), we find evidence for the formation of a mixed-metal Zn(II)-Al(III) hydroxide coprecipitate with a hydrotalcite-type local structure. These conclusions are based on an analysis of first- and second-neighbor interatomic distances derived from EXAFS spectra collected under ambient conditions on wet samples. At low sorption densities the sorption mechanism involves a transformation from six-coordinated Zn-hexaaquo solution complexes (with an average Zn-O distance of 2.07 ?) to four-coordinated surface complexes (with an average Zn-O distance of 1.97 ?) as described by the reaction identical withAl(OH(a))(OH(b))+Zn (H(2)O)(6)(2+)--> identical withAl(OH(a)') (OH(b)')Zn(OH(c)')(OH(d)'+4H(2)O+zH(+), where identical withAl(OH(a))(OH(b)) represents edge-sharing sites of Al(O,OH,OH(2))(6) octahedra to which Zn(O,OH,OH(2))(4) bonds in a bidentate fashion. The proton release consistent with this reaction (z=a-a'+b-b'+4-c'-d'), and with bond valence analysis falls in the range of 0 to 2 H(+)/Zn(II) when hydrolysis of the adsorbed Zn(II) complex is neglected. This interpretation suggests that proton release is likely a strong function of the coordination chemistry of the surface hydroxyl groups. At higher sorption densities (1.5 to 3.5 μmol/m(2)), a high-amplitude, second-shell feature in the Fourier transform of the EXAFS spectra indicates the formation of a three-dimensional mixed-metal coprecipitate, with a hydrotalcite-like local structure. Nitrate anions presumably satisfy the positive layer charge of the Al(III)-Zn(II) hydroxide layers in which the Zn/Al ratio falls in the range of 1 : 1 to 2 : 1. Our results for the higher Gamma-value sorption samples suggest that Zn-hydrotalcite-like phases may be a significant sink for Zn(II) in natural or catalytic systems containing soluble alumina compounds. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.