Characterization of Co(II) removal from aqueous solution using bentonite/iron oxide magnetic composites

The bentonite/iron oxide magnetic composites were prepared by co-precipitation method, and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscope. The prepared bentonite/iron oxide magnetic composites were used as a sorbent for the removal of Co(II) 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. The sorption of Co(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 presence of iron oxide in the composites also contributes to the sorption of Co(II) ions on the magnetic composites. The experimental data were well described by Langmuir model. The thermodynamic parameters (∆G ^°, ∆S ^°, ∆H ^°) calculated from the temperature-dependent sorption isotherms indicated that the sorption of Co(II) on bentonite/iron oxide magnetic composites was an endothermic and spontaneous processes.