Anion specific adsorption on Fe2O3 and AlOOH nanoparticles in aqueous solutions: comparison with hematite and gamma-Al2O3

The specific adsorption of radiolabeled sulfate and phosphate ions from perchlorate supporting electrolyte onto nano-AlOOH and nano-Fe(2)O(3) powder has been investigated. The pH dependence of the adsorption of anions onto nanopowders was compared with that of the same ions onto gamma-Al(2)O(3) and hematite. It was demonstrated that the character of the pH dependence of the adsorption is very similar in the comparable cases. It was found, however, that in contrast to the behavior of gamma-Al(2)O(3), nano-AlOOH dissolves at a significant rate at low pH values (pH<2). Thus the study of the pH dependence of the anion adsorption encounters difficulties at these pH values. Disregarding this fact, it can be concluded that no special effects can be observed in the anion adsorption onto the nano-oxides studied.     

Investigation of the specific adsorption of sulfate ions on powdered TiO2

The specific adsorption of radiolabeled sulfate ions from perchlorate supporting electrolyte onto TiO2 powder (anatase) has been investigated. The pH and concentration dependence of the adsorption was determined. Langmuir-like adsorption behavior similar to that on other oxides was found. From the pH dependence it follows that the protonation of the surface should precede the specific anion adsorption. The results obtained are compared with those reported for TiO2 bulk electrodes.     

In Situ Study of the Specific Adsorption of HSO(4)(-)/SO(4)(2-) Ions on Hematite by Radiotracer Technique

The specific adsorption of radiolabeled sulfate ions from perchlorate supporting electrolyte on hematite powder has been investigated. It was demonstrated that a measurable adsorption occurs only at pH values under 5. The adsorption capacity of a given amount of hematite powder tends to a limiting value with decreasing pH. A Langmuir-like adsorption isotherm describes the concentration dependence of the adsorption of sulfate species. It was found that the experimental results are in good agreement with the model suggested recently (Hug, S. J. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 188, 415 (1997)). Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Specific adsorption of anions preceding the dissolution of CuO in acidic solution

The specific adsorption of sulfate and chloride ions on powdered CuO was studied by radiotracer techniques in acidified of 0.5 mol dm^–3 NaClO₄ supporting electrolyte. It was found that the pH and concentration dependence of the adsorption of labelled sulfates could be determined over a wide pH range (2.0≤pH≤7.0), despite the gradual dissolution of the copper oxide. No specific adsorption was found at pH≥7.0. It was postulated that the specific adsorption was preceded by the protonation of the CuO surface. No reliable relationships were found for labelled chlorides, owing to the relatively high desorption rate of the surface complexes formed in the sorption process. The apparent adsorbability of sulfate ions was significantly higher than that of the chloride ions, as shown by the results of competitive adsorption of the two species. This observation was in agreement with the postulated lower desorption rate of the surface complex formed with sulfates than that of species formed with chlorides. Electronic Publication     

Specific adsorption of simple organic acids on metal(hydr)oxides: a radiotracer approach

The pH dependence of adsorption of (14)C-labeled benzoic and oxalic acids on gamma-Al(2)O(3) and hematite was studied in acid medium in the presence of 0.5 mol dm(-3) NaClO(4) supporting electrolyte. It was found that the adsorption of the organic species starts at pH values where the protonation of the oxide surface takes place. In the case of benzoic acid the extent of adsorption with decreasing pH goes through a sharp maximum at a pH value not far from the pK (4.2) of the acid, while in the case of oxalic acid only a small decrease can be observed at very low pH values (pH<1). In indirect radiotracer studies using (35)S-labeled sulfate ions it was shown that the competitive adsorption of formic, malonic, maleic, and oxalic acids with sulfate ions depends on pH and the effect of the organic acid on the anion adsorption becomes pronounced at pH values about and above the pK of the acid. On the basis of these observations and considerations concerning the dissociation of the organic acids studied it is assumed that the specific adsorption of the anionic form of the acids takes place. It is, however, emphasized that the negative charge of the anions, consequently the electrostatic forces, do not play significant role in the adsorption.     

Indirect radiotracer study of the adsorption of chromate ions on γ-Al2O3 and direct study of the adsorption of sulfate ions on Cr2O3 using 35S-labelled H2SO4

The specific adsorption of sulfate ions on Cr₂O₃ was studied by a radiotracer technique using ³⁵S-labelled sulfuric acid in low concentrations (c<10^–3 mol dm^–3) in the presence of a large excess of perchlorate supporting electrolyte. The pH and concentration dependence were determined. It was found that the extent of adsorption is determined by the protonation of the surface sites, similar to other oxides studied previously. A comparison of Cr₂O₃ and Al₂O₃ in this respect shows that the protonation of the former takes place at significantly lower pH values than that of the latter. The indirect radiotracer study of the adsorption of chromate on Al₂O₃ was carried out using labelled sulfate ions as indicator species. The results obtained show that the adsorption strength of chromate species is very low in comparison to sulfate ions and a regular Langmuir-like adsorption behaviour can be observed. It is believed that the observations presented may contribute to a better understanding of the behaviour of surface layers with a mixed oxide content. Electronic Publication     

Application of the Radiotracer Technique for the Study of the Specific Anion Adsorption on Al(2)O(3) in Acidic Medium

The specific adsorption of radiolabeled anions (sulfate, chloride) from perchlorate supporting electrolyte on gamma-Al(2)O(3) powder has been investigated. It was demonstrated that a measurable adsorption occurs only at pH values under pH 6. The adsorption capacity of a given amount of gamma-Al(2)O(3) powder tends to a limiting value with decreasing pH. A Langmuir-like adsorption isotherm describes the concentration dependence of the adsorption of sulfate species. It was found that the experimental results are very similar to those obtained in the case of hematite. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Equilibrium and kinetic studies of adsorption of phosphate onto ZnCl2 activated coir pith carbon

Phosphate removal from aqueous solution was investigated using ZnCl₂-activated carbon developed from coir pith, an agricultural solid waste. Studies were conducted to delineate the effect of contact time, adsorbent dose, phosphate concentration, pH, and temperature. The adsorption equilibrium data followed both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Langmuir adsorption capacity was found to be 5.1 mg/g. Adsorption followed second-order kinetics. The removal was maximum in the pH range 3–10. pH effect and desorption studies showed that adsorption occurred by both ion exchange and chemisorption mechanisms. Adsorption was found to be spontaneous and endothermic. Effect of foreign ions on adsorption shows that perchlorate, sulfate, and selenite decreased the percent removal of phosphate.     

Adsorption of phosphate from seawater on calcined MgMn-layered double hydroxides

Adsorptive properties of MgMn-3-300 (MgMn-type layered double hydroxide with Mg/Mn mole ratio of 3, calcined at 300 degrees C) for phosphate were investigated in phosphate-enriched seawater with a concentration of 0.30 mg-P/dm3. It showed the highest phosphate uptake from the seawater among the inorganic adsorbents studied (hydrotalcite, calcined hydrotalcite, activated magnesia, hydrous aluminum oxide, manganese oxide (delta-MnO2)). The phosphate uptake by MgMn-3-300 reached 7.3 mg-P/g at an adsorbent/solution ratio of 0.05 g/2 dm3. The analyses of the uptakes of other constituents (Na+, K+, Ca(+, Cl-, and SO(2-)4) of seawater showed that the adsorbent had a markedly high selectivity for the adsorption of phosphate ions. Effects of initial phosphate concentration, temperature, pH, and salinity on phosphate uptake were investigated in detail by a batch method. The phosphate uptake increased slightly with an increase in the adsorption temperature. The adsorption isotherm followed Freundlich's equation with constants of logK(F)=1.25 and 1/n=0.65, indicating that it could effectively remove phosphate even from a solution of markedly low phosphate concentration as well as with large numbers of coexisting ions. The pH dependence showed a maximum phosphate uptake around pH 8.5. The pH dependence curve suggested that selective phosphate adsorption progresses mainly by the ion exchange of HPO(2-)4. The study on the effect of salinity suggested the presence of two kinds of adsorption sites in the adsorbent: one nonspecific site with weak interaction and one specific site with strong interaction. The effective desorption of phosphate could be achieved using a mixed solution of 5 M NaCl + 0.1 M NaOH (1 M = 1 mol/dm3), with negligible dissolution of adsorbent. The adsorbent had high chemical stability against the adsorption/desorption cycle; it kept a good phosphate uptake even after the repetition of the seventh cycle.     

Adsorption of fluoride, phosphate, and arsenate ions on a new type of ion exchange fiber

A new type of ion exchange fiber for the removal of fluoride, phosphate, and arsenate ions has been developed. A batch adsorption technique for investigating adsorption kinetic and equilibrium parameters and determining pH adsorption edges is applied. It is shown that the adsorption properties of the ion exchange fiber for fluoride, phosphate, and arsenate ions depend on the pH value and anion concentration. The adsorption of arsenate on the sorbent reaches a maximum of 97.9% in the pH value range of 3.5 to 7.0. The adsorption percentage of phosphate is more than 99% in the pH range of 3.0 to 5.5. The adsorption of fluoride on the ion exchange fiber is found to be 90.4% at pH 3.0. The Freundlich model can describe the adsorption equilibrium data of fluoride, arsenate, and phosphate anions. The sorption of the three anions on the ion exchange fiber is a rapid process, and the adsorption kinetic data can be simulated very well by the pseudo-second-order rate equation. The column performance is carried out to assess the applicability of the ion exchange fiber for the removal of fluoride, phosphate, and arsenate ions from synthetic wastewaters with satisfactory removal efficiency. The desorption experiment shows that fluoride ion sorbed by the fiber column can be quantitatively desorbed with 5 mL of 0.50 mol/L NaOH at elution rate of 1 mL/min, and 30 mL of NaOH is necessary for the quantitative recovery of phosphate and arsenate ions.     

Interfacial Study of Nickel-Modified Pt(111) Surfaces in Phosphate-Containing Solutions: Effect on the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

The surface modification of electrodes attracts great interest in electrocatalysis. It has often been observed that deposition of foreign adatoms on the surface of an electrode can originate a significant enhancement in the catalytic activity. For example, it has been reported that nickel deposits on Pt surfaces improve the rate of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER, Nature Energy 2017, 2, 17031). During the deposition process of such metal adlayers, the pH and the nature of the ions in the electrolyte play an important role. Phosphate species are typically used to prepare buffer solutions in a wide range of pH. Therefore, electrolytes containing phosphate species are used in a large number of applications. However, the effect of phosphate on platinum surface modification with nickel deposits has not been studied yet. In this work, new data about the interaction of phosphate with nickel adatoms deposited on Pt(111) at pH 5 is investigated using cyclic voltammetry and infrared spectroscopy. The results show that, when nickel is in solution, the phosphate ions are adsorbed at lower potentials than in the absence of nickel. In addition, Laser-Induced Temperature Jump Technique demonstrates that nickel facilitates the adsorption of phosphate because of a shift of the potential of zero charge (pzc) toward negative potentials. This increases the magnitude of the positive electric field on the electrode surface, at a given potential E>pzc, facilitating the adsorption of anions. CO displacement technique has been also employed to obtain additional information about co-adsorbed phosphate on nickel adlayers. Finally, the HER has been studied at pH 5 in the presence of nickel, with and without phosphate in the bulk solution.     

Initial stages of copper electrocrystallization from sulfate electrolytes: Cyclic voltammetry on a platinum ring-disk electrode

Initial stages of copper electrocrystallization on platinum rotating and stationary ring-disk electrodes are studied in sulfate electrolytes of different acidities by cyclic voltammetry with a variable cathodic limit. In a weakly acid sodium sulfate solution of pH 3.7, copper deposition occurs at a higher rate than in a sulfuric acid electrolyte, which is due to an acceleration of the discharge of copper ions caused by local electrostatic effects that occur during the specific adsorption of sulfate anions and hydroxyl ions and to alterating nature of electroactive species. The mechanism of the formation of intermediate species (ions Cu⁺) during the deposition and dissolution of copper in solutions of different acidities is established.     

Removal of phosphate using copper-loaded polymeric ligand exchanger prepared by radiation grafting of polypropylene/polyethylene (PP/PE) nonwoven fabric

A novel polymeric ligand exchanger (PLE) was prepared for the removal of phosphate ions from water. 2,2′-dipyridylamine (DPA), a bidentate ligand forming compound with high coordination capacity with a variety of metal ions was bound to glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) grafted polypropylene/polyethylene (PP/PE) nonwoven fabric synthesized by radiation-induced grafting technique. DPA attachment on epoxy ring of GMA units was tested in different solvents, i.e. methanol, ethanol, dioxane and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The highest amount of modification was achieved in dioxane. In order to prepare the corresponding PLE for the removal of phosphate, DPA-immobilized fabric was loaded with Cu(II) ions. Phosphate adsorption experiments were performed in batch mode at different pH (5–9) and phosphate concentrations. The fabric was found to be effective for the removal of phosphate ions. At every stage of preparation and use, the nonwoven fabric was characterized by thermal (i.e. DSC and TGA) and spectroscopic (FTIR) methods. Competitive adsorption experiments were also carried out using two solutions with different concentration levels at pH 7 to see the effect of competing ions. Phosphate adsorption was found to be effective and selective from solutions having trace amounts of competitive anions. It is expected that the novel PLE synthesized can be used for the removal of phosphate ions in low concentrations over a large range of pH.     

Sorption of phosphate ions on iron(III), zirconium(IV), and chromium(III) oxyhydroxides from aqueous electrolyte solutions

The adsorption of phosphate ions from aqueous solutions with an ionic strength of 0.5 on iron(III), zirconium(IV), and chromium(III) oxyhydroxide hydrogels has been studied as influenced by chloride and sulfate ions. Despite the high concentrations of chloride and sulfate ions, they do not inhibit phosphate adsorption on the hydrogels; they only slightly change the isotherm shape. In the range of equilibrium phosphate concentrations equal to 30–50 mmol/l, all isotherms for iron and zirconium oxyhydroxide gels signify the appearance of a second adsorption layer (two-step isotherms). Both steps are satisfactorily fitted by the Langmuir equation. The maximum adsorptions and adsorption constants have been calculated. For chromium oxyhydroxide gels, the intraduction of an electrolyte dramatically decreases the equilibration rate.     

ATR-IR spectroscopic study of antimonate adsorption to iron oxide

Antimonate ions adsorb to iron oxides in mining contexts, but the nature of the adsorbed antimonate species has not frequently been investigated. In this study, ATR-IR spectroscopy was used to reveal that the adsorption of Sb(OH)6- ion from aqueous solutions onto an amorphous iron oxide particle film is accompanied by changes in the Sb(OH)6- spectrum and the loss of OH stretching absorptions from iron oxide surface hydroxyl groups. These spectral changes upon adsorption imply an inner-sphere surface interaction with the formation of Sb-O-Fe bonds as well as some outer-sphere adsorption. The corresponding results from solutions of antimonate in D2O confirm that chemisorption occurs. The dependence of antimonate adsorption on pH in the range from 8 to 3 follows that expected for anions on iron oxide considering its pH-dependent surface charge, with the greatest amount of adsorbed antimonate at pH 3. The study of adsorption/desorption kinetics showed a more rapid desorption of adsorbed antimonate under alkaline conditions. This trend is expected from the pH dependence of the antimonate charge and iron oxide surface charge, but it might be partly due to the fact that high pH favors hydrolysis of antimonate oligomers formed on the iron oxide surface from adsorption under acidic conditions.     

Mesoporous Poly(melamine-co-formaldehyde) Particles for Efficient and Selective Phosphate and Sulfate Removal

Due to the existence-threatening risk to aquatic life and entire ecosystems, the removal of oxyanions such as sulfate and phosphate from anthropogenic wastewaters, such as municipal effluents and acid mine drainage, is inevitable. Furthermore, phosphorus is an indispensable resource for worldwide plant fertilization, which cannot be replaced by any other substance. This raises phosphate to one of the most important mineral resources worldwide. Thus, efficient recovery of phosphate is essential for ecosystems and the economy. To face the harsh acidic conditions, such as for acid mine drainage, an adsorber material with a high chemical resistivity is beneficial. Poly(melamine-co-formaldehyde) (PMF) sustains these conditions whilst its very high amount of nitrogen functionalities (up to 53.7 wt.%) act as efficient adsorption sides. To increase adsorption capacities, PMF was synthesized in the form of mesoporous particles using a hard-templating approach yielding specific surface areas up to 409 m²/g. Different amounts of silica nanospheres were utilized as template and evaluated for the adsorption of sulfate and phosphate ions. The adsorption isotherms were validated by the Langmuir model. Due to their properties, the PMF particles possessed outperforming maximum adsorption capacities of 341 and 251 mg/g for phosphate and sulfate, respectively. Furthermore, selective adsorption of sulfate from mixed solutions of phosphate and sulfate was found for silica/PMF hybrid particles.     

Kinetics of phosphate adsorption on goethite: comparing batch adsorption and ATR-IR measurements

The adsorption kinetics of phosphate on goethite has been studied by batch adsorption experiments and by in situ ATR-IR spectroscopy at different pH, initial phosphate concentrations and stirring rates. Batch adsorption results are very similar to those reported by several authors, and show a rather fast initial adsorption taking place in a few minutes followed by a slower process taking place in days or weeks. The adsorption kinetics could be also monitored by integrating the phosphate signals obtained in ATR-IR experiments, and a very good agreement between both techniques was found. At pH 4.5 two surface complexes, the bidentate nonprotonated (FeO)(2)PO(2) and the bidentate protonated (FeO)(2)(OH)PO complexes, are formed at the surface. There are small changes in the relative concentrations of these species as the reaction proceeds, and they seem to evolve in time rather independently. At pH 7.5 and 9 the dominating surface species is (FeO)(2)PO(2), which is accompanied by an extra unidentified species at low concentration. They also seem to evolve independently as the reaction proceeds. The results are consistent with a mechanism that involve a fast adsorption followed by a slow diffusion into pores, and are not consistent with surface precipitation of iron phosphate.     

Effect of phosphate complexation on Cd2+ sorption by manganese dioxide (beta-MnO2)

Sorption of metal ions on oxide/hydroxide surfaces mediates the fate and transport of these ions in many natural systems. These metallic ions often exist in bulk in the aqueous phase as complexes with inorganic and organic ligands. In the present study, we investigated the sorption properties of manganese dioxide in the presence of phosphate which is thought to be one of the most important complex forming species. The surface area, point of zero charge and structural morphology of the solid manganese dioxide were determined. Cd(2+) sorption studies were carried out on manganese dioxide as a function of pH, temperature and phosphate concentration. Cd(2+) sorption increased with increasing pH, temperature and phosphate concentration. It was found that phosphate formed both outer and inner sphere complexes via metal and ligand-like adsorption. The Langmuir equation was applied to describe the data and from the constants of this equation different thermodynamic parameters such as DeltaH(0), DeltaS(0) and DeltaG(0) were evaluated.     

Selective adsorption of phosphate from seawater and wastewater by amorphous zirconium hydroxide

Phosphate adsorption from single electrolyte (NaH2PO4), phosphate-enriched seawater, and model wastewater was studied using amorphous zirconium hydroxide, ZrO(OH)2(Na2O)0.05 1.5H2O, as an adsorbent. Batch experiments were carried out to investigate the adsorption of phosphate. The effect of pH on phosphate adsorption from seawater showed that the uptake of phosphate increased with an increase in pH up to 6, and then decreased sharply with a further increase in pH of the solution. The equilibrium data of phosphate adsorption were followed with a Freundlich isotherm. The uptake of phosphate at the adsorbent/solution ratio 0.05 g/2 L was 10 and 17 mg-P/g for the phosphate-enriched seawater and the model wastewater, respectively. A much higher adsorptivity toward phosphate ions in seawater was observed on ZrO(OH)2(Na2O)0.05 1.5H(2)O than on other representative adsorbents based on layered double hydroxides of Mg(II)-Al(III), Mg(II)-Fe(III), and Ni(II)-Fe(III). The effective desorption of phosphate ions on ZrO(OH)2(Na2O)0.05 1.5H2O could be achieved using a 0.1 M NaOH solution. The usefulness of experimental data for practical applications in removing phosphate in seawater and wastewater is discussed.     

A radiotracer study of adsorption on activated carbon cloth from aqueous solution

A study has been made on the effect of pH upon the equilibrium adsorption capacity of triethyl phosphate, dimethyl phosphate and orthophosphate on to activated carbon cloth. It is shown that for molecular phosphates no dependence upon pH exists, whilst the adsorption of ionic phosphates exhibit a strong pH dependence. These adsorption trends may be explained in terms of pKa values, ionic strength and the surface charge of the activated carbon cloth is aqueous solution.