Adsorption characteristics of As(V), Se(IV), and V(V) onto activated alumina: effects of pH, surface loading, and ionic strength

Arsenic, selenium, and vanadium are major anionic elements of concern in drinking water. This research investigated the adsorption characteristics of As(V), Se(IV), and V(V) onto a commercial activated alumina (AA) under different pH, surface loading, and ionic strength conditions using batch systems. The results indicated that the adsorption of these elements was significantly affected by pH and the surface loading. However, ionic strength generally did not impact their adsorption, indicating that the electrostatic effect on the adsorption of these elements was relatively not important compared to surface chemical reactions. A speciation-based adsorption model was used to simulate the adsorption of As(V), Se(IV), and V(V) by activated alumina and to determine the adsorption constants of different element species. This model can satisfactorily predict the adsorption of these elements in a broad pH range from 1.5 to 12 and a wide surface loading range from 1.0 to 50 mg/g activated alumina for different sorbent concentrations, using the same set of adsorption constants.