Impact of environmental conditions on the removal of Ni(II) from aqueous solution to bentonite/iron oxide magnetic composites

The sorption of radionuclide ⁶³Ni(II) on bentonite/iron oxide magnetic composites was investigated by batch technique under ambient conditions. The effect of contact time, solid content, pH, coexistent electrolyte ions, fulvic acid, and temperature on Ni(II) sorption to bentonite/iron oxide magnetic composites was examined. The results demonstrated that the sorption of Ni(II) was strongly dependent on pH and ionic strength at pH <8.0, and was independent of pH and ionic strength at high pH values. The sorption of Ni(II) was dominated by outer-sphere surface complexation or ion exchange at low pH, whereas inner-sphere surface complexation was the main sorption mechanism at high pH. The experimental data were well fitted by Langmuir model. The thermodynamic parameters (∆G°, ∆S°, ∆H°) calculated from the temperature-dependent sorption isotherms indicated that the sorption of Ni(II) on bentonite/iron oxide magnetic composites was an endothermic and spontaneous processes. The results show that bentonite/iron oxide magnetic composites are promising magnetic materials for the preconcentration and separation of radionickel from aqueous solutions in environmental pollution.