Macadamia nutshells-derived activated carbon and attapulgite clay combination for synergistic removal of Cr(VI) and Cr(III)

A physical mixture of Macadamia-derived activated carbon and cationic attapulgite clay was investigated for total chromium removal in aqueous solution. The parameters influencing the adsorption of chromium on the sorbents were investigated, and it was shown that pH 3, contact time 2 hours, concentra...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Adsorption science & technology 2018-02, Vol.36 (1-2), p.713-731
Main Authors: Hlungwane, Lindiwe, Viljoen, Elvera Logie, Pakade, Vusumzi Emmanuel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activated carbon
Activated clay
Adsorption
Aqueous solutions
Cations
Chemisorption
Ion exchange
Mathematical models
Nutshells
Organic chemistry
Process parameters
Sorbents
Trivalent chromium
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Summary:A physical mixture of Macadamia-derived activated carbon and cationic attapulgite clay was investigated for total chromium removal in aqueous solution. The parameters influencing the adsorption of chromium on the sorbents were investigated, and it was shown that pH 3, contact time 2 hours, concentration 50 mg L−1 and calculated adsorption capacity of 96.28 mg g−1 were the optimal parameters. The process of adsorption was better described by Freundlich adsorption isotherm, and the kinetic modelling data suggested a chemisorption mechanism described by pseudo-second-order (PSO) rate model. Ionic strength studies demonstrated that the removal of anionic Cr(VI) species was mostly affected by the presence of anions like Cl− and NO 3 - , while the removal of the cationic Cr(III) species was affected largely by cations NH 4 + >Na+>K+. Overall, the removal mechanism involved adsorption, reduction and ion exchange processes.
ISSN:0263-6174
2048-4038
DOI:10.1177/0263617417719552