A Novel Solid Platform–Based Ag Nanoparticles Chemically Impregnated Activated Carbon for Selective Separation of Tungstate Species in Water: Kinetics and Thermodynamic Study

• Published in: Water, air, and soil pollution air, and soil pollution, 2020-09, Vol.231 (9), Article 456
• Main Authors: Al-Ahmadi, M. N., Saigl, Z. M., Al-khateeb, L. A., Alshareef, F. M., El-Shahawi, M. S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activated carbon; Adsorption; Aqueous solutions; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Cations; Chemical synthesis; Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts; Drinking water; Earth and Environmental Science; Electron micrographs; Environment; Environmental monitoring; Exothermic reactions; Freshwater; Hydrogeology; Inland water environment; Kinetics; Microstructure; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Reaction kinetics; Removal; Silver; Sodium hydroxide; Soil Science & Conservation; Solid phases; Sorbents; Sorption; Surface area; Surface chemistry; Thermal properties; Thermodynamics; Toxicity; Trace levels; Water analysis; Water Quality/Water Pollution; Water sampling
• ISSN: 0049-6979; 1573-2932
• DOI: 10.1007/s11270-020-04761-1

The level of tungstate in freshwater is disturbing due to its toxicity and its impact to human health. Thus, the current study explores the use of Ag nanoparticle (AgNP)–treated activated carbon (AgNPs/AC) nanocomposite as solid phase extractor (SPE) for removal of trace levels of tungstate ions in water. The AgNPs/AC was synthesized by chemical binding of Ag nanoparticles onto AC. The microstructure image indicated that the AgNPs were uniformly dispersed on AC surface and thus maintaining high surface area. Scanning electron micrographs of AgNPs/AC revealed a three-dimensional structure which is suitable as SPE. The AgNPs/AC nanocomposite was used as a low-cost and effective SPE for tungstate removal from water. Adsorption of tungstate from aqueous media reached maximum at pH ≈ 4 and reached equilibrium in