Adsorption of sulfate in aqueous solutions by organo-nano-clay: Adsorption equilibrium and kinetic studies

Abstract

The adsorption of sulfate in aqueous solutions onto organo-nano-clay prepared by natural zeolite and cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was studied. Parameters such as adsorbent dosage, contact time and temperature were investigated using batch adsorption studies. The results show that the uptake of sulfate increases with the increase of contact time and temperature, and decreases with the increase of dosage. The Freundlich isotherm model is fit to explain the sulfate adsorption onto organo-nano-clay. The maximum adsorption capacity is found to be 38.02 mg/g at 40 °C. The kinetic data fit well the pseudo-second-order and Elovich models with a R² more than 0.98. It is suggested that chemisorption is the rate-controlling step for adsorption of sulfate onto organo-nano-clay, meanwhile both intraparticle diffusion and boundary layer diffusion also contribute as well. Ion-exchange between sulfate anions and bromide ions and complexation between sulfate anions and CTAB cations are responsible for the mechanism of sulfate adsorption.

Keywords

organo-nano-clay / cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) / modification / sulfate / adsorption

References

[1] LensP N L, VisserA, JanssenA J H, Hulshoff, PolL W H, LettingaG. Biotechnological treatment of sulfate-rich wastewaters [J]. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 1998, 28(1): 41-88

[2] ZhangJ-h, TangL, ZhangH-j, YangY-l, MaoZ-gui. A novel and cleaner technological process of extracting l-glutamic acid from fermentation broth by two-stage crystallization [J]. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2012, 20(1): 137-144

[3] LiJ, LuanZ-k, YuL, JiZ-guang. Organics, sulfates and ammonia removal from acrylic fiber manufacturing wastewater using a combined Fenton-UASB^(2 phase)-SBR system [J]. Bioresource Technology, 2011, 102(22): 10319-10326

[4] LuH, WuD, JiangJ, EkamaG A, Van LoosdrechtM C M, ChenG-hao. The demonstration of a novel sulfur cycle-Based wastewater treatment process: sulfate reduction, autotrophic denitrification, and nitrification integrated (SANIR) biological nitrogen removal process [J]. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 2012, 109(11): 2778-2789

[5] BackerL C. Assessing the acute gastrointestinal effects of ingesting naturally occurring, high levels of sulfate in drinking water [J]. Critical Reviews in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, 2000, 37(4): 389-400

[6] SilvaR, CadorinL, RubioJ. Sulphate ions removal from an aqueous solution: I. Co-precipitation with hydrolysed aluminum-bearing salts [J]. Minerals Engineering, 2010, 23(15): 1220-1226

[7] GB 5749-2006. Ministry of health in China. Standards for drinking water quality [S]. (in Chinese)

[8] DuranogluD, KadirganN, UstunB. Process modification of a wire-welding plant for efficient sulphate removal [J]. Water and Environment Journal, 2012, 26(1): 56-62

[9] RodriguezR P, OliveiraG H D, RaimundiI M, ZaiatM. Assessment of a UASB reactor for the removal of sulfate from acid mine water [J]. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, 2012, 74: 48-53

[10] HaghshenoR, MohebbiA, HashemipourH, SarrafiA. Study of kinetic and fixed bed operation of removal of sulfate anions from an industrial wastewater by an anion exchange resin [J]. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2009, 166(2/3): 961-966

[11] NurmiP, OzkayaB, SasakiK, KaksonenA H, Riekkola-vanhanenM, TuovinenO H, PuhakkaJ A. Biooxidation and precipitation for iron and sulfate removal from heap bioleaching effluent streams [J]. Hydrometallurgy, 2010, 101(1/2): 7-14

[12] BertolinoS M, RodriguesI C B, Guerra-saR, AquinoS F, LeaoV A. Implications of volatile fatty acid profile on the metabolic pathway during continuous sulfate reduction [J]. Journal of Environmental Management, 2012, 103: 15-23

[13] LuoQ-a, TsukamotoT K, ZamzowK L, MillerG C. Arsenic, selenium, and sulfate removal using an ethanol-enhanced sulfate-reducing bioreactor [J]. Mine Water and the Environment, 2008, 27(2): 100-108

[14] ShavandiM A, HaddadianZ, IsmailM H S, AbdullahN, AbidinZ Z. Removal of Fe(III), Mn(II) and Zn(II) from palm oil mill effluent (POME) by natural zeolite [J]. Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers, 2012, 43(5): 750-759

[15] VidalC B, RaulinoG S C, BarrosA L, LimaA C A, RibeiroJ P, PiresM J R, NascimentoR F. BTEX removal from aqueous solutions by HDTMA-modified Y zeolite [J]. Journal of Environmental Management, 2012, 112: 178-185

[16] YuanX-z, JiangL-l, ZengG-m, LiuZ-f, ZhongH, HuangH-j, ZhouM-f, CuiK-long. Effect of rhamnolipids on cadmium adsorption by Penicillium simplicissimum [J]. Journal of Central South University, 2012, 19(4): 1073-1080

[17] XiongC-h, FengY-j, YaoC-ping. Adsorption of Pb²⁺ on macroporous weak acid adsorbent resin from aqueous solutions [J]. Journal of Central South University of Technology, 2009, 16(4): 569-574

[18] YenerN, BicerC, OnalM, SarikayaY. Simultaneous determination of cation exchange capacity and surface area of acid activated bentonite powders by methylene blue sorption [J]. Applied Surface Science, 2011, 258(7): 2534-2539

[19] LiuH-c, LiF-c, SongY-ping. Mesuration of sulfate content in water by means of photometry of vitriolic barium [J]. Journal of Ping Ding Shan Institute of Technology, 2004, 13(4): 46-47

[20] LangmuirI. The adsorption of gases on plane surfaces of glass, mica, and platinum [J]. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 1918, 40: 1361-1403

[21] FreundlichH M F. Over the adsorption in solution [J]. Journal of Physical Chemistry, 1906, 57: 385-470

[22] SivasankarV, RajkumarS, MurugeshS, DarchenA. Influence of shaking or stirring dynamic methods in the defluoridation behavior of activated tamarind fruit shell carbon [J]. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2012, 197: 162-172

[23] AksuZ, TatliA I, TuncO. A comparative adsorption/ biosorption study of Acid Blue 161: Effect of temperature on equilibrium and kinetic parameters [J]. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2008, 142(1): 23-39

[24] BoydG E, AdamsonA W, MyersL SJr. The exchange adsorption of ions from aqueous solutions by organic zeolites. II. Kinetics [J]. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 1974, 61(11): 2836-2848

[25] Sen GuptaS, BhattacharyyaK G. Adsorption of Ni(II) on clays [J]. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2006, 295(1): 21-32

[26] TengH, HsiehC T. Activation energy for oxygen chemisorption oil carbon at low temperatures [J]. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 1999, 38(1): 292-297

[27] HaggertyG M, BowmanR S. Sorption of chromate and other inorganic anions by organo-zeolite [J]. Environmental Science & Technology, 1994, 28(3): 452-458

[28] LiZ-h, BowmanR S. Counterion effects on the sorption of cationic surfactant and chromate on natural clinoptilolite [J]. Environmental Science & Technology, 1997, 31(8): 2407-2412