Removal of arsenate from aqueous solutions by biochar supported by Iron

Document Type : Complete scientific research article

Authors

1 Soil Science Dept Urmia University

2 Urmia - Urmia university

3 Research Department of Chromatography, Iranian Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Urmia Branch.

4 Urmia university - agriculture Faculty - Department of soil science

5 soil science department - urmia university

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Arsenic contamination is one of the serious environmental challenges in developing countries. Contaminated water is the main source of human and animal exposure to inorganic arsenic. There are various physicochemical and biological methods used for arsenic removal from aquatic environments. Compared to all the advantages and disadvantages of arsenic removal methods, adsorption processes considered as an effective method due to its low cost and ease of application. Iron - rich materials have a high capacity to sorption of arsenic in aqueous solutions. The objective of this study is an assessment of arsenate removal from water using biochar modification by iron salt, which can be used for the recovery of arsenate contaminated water resources for drinking water supply and reuse of industrial effluents.
Materials and Methods: In order to preparation of iron modified biochar 0.1 (0.1FeBC) and 0.4 (0.4FeBC) ratios of FeCl3.6H2O were added to apple pruning residues powder and pyrolized in the furnace for an hour at 300 °C under limited oxygen condition as well as a control sample without iron. SEM images were used for characterization of the morphology of the adsorbents. The isotherm experiment was carried out at initial concentrations of 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mg arsenate/L and remaining arsenate in solution was determined using hydride generation atomic absorption spectroscopy (HG-AAS). Experimental data were fitted to Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm models, and parameters such as apparent energy of adsorption (E), adsorption efficiency, Gibb’s free energy (ΔG) and separation factor were calculated.
Results: Iron modified the surface properties of biochar and increased the amount of the granular compounds on the adsorbents surface. The results showed that by increasing of the adsorbent iron content, the removal of arsenate from solution increased and the highest removal efficiency (86%) was obtained for the 0.4FeBC adsorbent at 1 mg Arsenate/L. The ability of the Freundlich model to simulate the process of arsenate adsorption by iron-modified adsorbents was higher than the Langmuir, Dubinin–Radushkevich and Temkin models. By increasing the iron content in the adsorbents Freundlich (KF and n), Temkin (KT and A), Langmuir (KL and qmax) coefficients increased, while the Dubinin–Radushkevich (KDR) coefficient and separation factor (RL) decreased. The highest value for the maximum absorption capacity (qmax) was obtained for 0.4FeBC in the amount of 7.66 mg of arsenate per gram of adsorbent. According to the values of apparent energy of adsorption (E), adsorption process for unmodified biochar is physical (less than 8 kJ / mol) and for the modified biochar is chemisorption. Based on Gibbs free energy (ΔG) values, the adsorption process of arsenate by adsorbents is spontaneous.
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, modification of biochar by iron salt can be considered as an inexpensive absorbent due to local accessibility and easy application for removal of arsenate from water.

Keywords

References

1.Abdolali, A., Guo, W.S., Ngo, H.H., Chen, S.S., Nguyen, N.C., and Tung, K.L. 2014. Typical lignocellulosic wastes and by-products for biosorption process in water and wastewater treatment: a critical review. Bioresource technology. 160: 57-66.
2.Agrafioti, E., Kalderis, D., and Diamadopoulos, E. 2014. Ca and Fe modified biochars as adsorbents of arsenic and chromium in aqueous solutions. J. Environ. Manage. 146: 444-450.
3.Ahmed, M.B., Zhou, J.L., Ngo, H.H., Guo, W., Johir, M.A.H., and Belhaj, D. 2017. Competitive sorption affinity of sulfonamides and chloramphenicol antibiotics toward functionalized biochar for water and wastewater treatment. Bioresource technology. 238: 306-312.
4.Babaee, Y., Mulligan, C.N., and Rahaman, M.S. 2017. Stabilization of Fe/Cu nanoparticles by starch and efficiency of arsenic adsorption from aqueous solutions. Environmental Earth Sciences. 76: 19. 650.
5.Camacho, L.M., Ponnusamy, S., Campos, I., Davis, T.A., and Deng, S. 2015. Evaluation of novel modified activated alumina as adsorbent for arsenic removal. In Handbook of Arsenic Toxicology. Academic Press. Pp: 121-136.
6.Chaudhry, S.A., Khan, T.A., and Ali, I. 2017. Zirconium oxide-coated sand based batch and column adsorptive removal of arsenic from water: Isotherm, kinetic and thermodynamic studies. Egypt. J. Petroleum. 26: 2. 553-563.
7.Chaudhry, S.A., Zaidi, Z., and Siddiqui, S.I. 2017. Isotherm, kinetic and thermodynamics of arsenic adsorption onto Iron-Zirconium Binary Oxide-Coated Sand (IZBOCS): Modelling and process optimization. J. Mol. Liquid. 229: 230-240.
8.Cheng, Y., Zhang, S., Huang, T., and Li, Y. 2019. Arsenite removal from groundwater by iron–manganese oxides filter media: Behavior and mechanism. Water Environment Research. 91: 6. 536-545.
9.Chitsazan, M., Dorraninejad, M.S., Zarasvandi, A., and Mirzaii, S.Y. 2009. Occurrence, distribution and source of arsenic in deep groundwater wells in Maydavood area, southwestern Iran. Environmental geology. 58: 4. 727-737.
10.Faghani, H.A., and Heshmati Jannat Magham, A. 2019. Study of Phenol Red pigment removal from aqueous solution using Magnetite Nanoparticle. J. Water Soil Cons. 26: 3. 109-125. (In Persian)
11.Foo, K.Y., and Hameed, B.H. 2010. Insights into the modeling of adsorption isotherm systems. Chem. Engin. J. 156: 1. 2-10.
12.Freitas, E.T., Stroppa, D.G., Montoro, L.A., de Mello, J.W., Gasparon, M., and Ciminelli, V.S. 2016. Arsenic entrapment by nanocrystals of Al-magnetite: the role of Al in crystal growth and as retention. Chemosphere. 158: 91-99.
13.Gupta, V.K., Gupta, M., and Sharma, S. 2001. Process development for the removal of lead and chromium from aqueous solutions using red mud-an aluminium industry waste. Water research. 35: 5. 1125-1134.
14.Hamidian, A.H., Razeghi, N., Zhang, Y., and Yang, M. 2019. Spatial distribution of arsenic in groundwater of Iran, a review. J. Geochem. Exp. 201: 88-98
15.Han, B., Runnells, T., Zimbron, J., and Wickramasinghe R. 2002. Arsenic removal from drinking water by flocculation and microfiltration. Desalination. 145:1. 293-298.
16.He, R., Peng, Z., Lyu, H., Huang, H., Nan, Q., and Tang, J. 2018. Synthesis and characterization of an iron-impregnated biochar for aqueous arsenic removal. Science of the Total Environment. 612: 1177-1186.
17.Hu, X., Ding, Z., Zimmerman, A.R., Wang, S., and Gao, B. 2015. Batch and column sorption of arsenic onto iron-impregnated biochar synthesized through hydrolysis. water research.
68: 206-216.
18.IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, World Health Organization and International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2004. Some drinking-water disinfectants and contaminants, including arsenic. Vol. 84.
19.Inyang, M.I., Gao, B., Yao, Y., Xue, Y., Zimmerman, A., Mosa, A., Pullammanappallil, P., Ok, Y.S., and Cao, X. 2016. A review of biochar as a low-cost adsorbent for aqueous heavy metal removal. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology. 46: 4. 406-433.
20.Jain, M., Garg, V.K., and Kadirvelu, K. 2009. Chromium (VI) removal from aqueous system using Helianthus annuus (sunflower) stem waste. J. Hazard. Mater. 162: 1. 365-372.
21.Kalaruban, M., Loganathan, P., Nguyen, T.V., Nur, T., Johir, M.A.H., Nguyen, T.H., Trinh, M.V., and Vigneswaran, S. 2019. Iron-impregnated granular activated carbon for arsenic removal: Application to practical column filters. J. Environ. Manage. 239: 235-243.
22.Khorasanipour, M., and Esmaeilzadeh, E. 2015. Geo-genic arsenic contamination in the Kerman Cenozoic Magmatic Arc, Kerman, Iran: Implications for the source identification and regional analysis. Applied Geochemistry. 63: 610-622.
23.Komkiene, J., and Baltrenaite, E. 2016. Biochar as adsorbent for removal of heavy metal ions [Cadmium (II), Copper (II), Lead (II), Zinc (II)] from aqueous phase. Intern. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 13: 2. 471-482.
24.Kwok, K.C., Koong, L.F., Al Ansari, T., and McKay, G. 2018. Adsorption/ desorption of arsenite and arsenate on chitosan and nanochitosan. Environmental Science and Pollution Research.
25: 15. 14734-14742.
25.Lata, S., and Samadder, S.R. 2016. Removal of arsenic from water using nano-adsorbents and challenges: a review. J. Environ. Manage. 166: 387-406.
26.Li, R., Wang, J.J., Gaston, L.A., Zhou, B., Li, M., Xiao, R., Wang, Q., Zhang, Z., Huang, H., Liang, W., and Huang, H. 2018. An overview of carbothermal synthesis of metal–biochar composites for the removal of oxyanion contaminants from aqueous solution. Carbon. 129: 674-687.
27.Lin, L., Qiu, W., Wang, D., Huang, Q., Song, Z., and Chau, H.W. 2017. Arsenic removal in aqueous solution by a novel Fe-Mn modified biochar composite: characterization and mechanism. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety. 144: 514-521.
28.Litter M.I., Morgada M.E., and Bundschuh J. 2010. Possible treatments for arsenic removal in Latin American waters for human consumption. Environmental Pollution. 158: 5. 1105-1118.
29.Mandal, P. 2017. An insight of environmental contamination of arsenic on animal health. Emerging Contaminants. 3: 1. 17-22.
30.Mansouri, T., Golchin, A., Babaakbari Sari, M., and Sh. Ahmadi. 2017. Reduction of arsenic mobilization in soil by application of hematite nanoparticles and acrylic polymers. J. Water Soil Cons. 23: 6. 79-99. (In Persian)
31.Matschullat, J. 2000. Arsenic in the geosphere-a review. Science of the Total Environment. 249: 1-3. 297-312.
32.Mosaferi, M., Yunesian, M., Dastgiri, S., Mesdaghinia, A., and Esmailnasab, N. 2008. Prevalence of skin lesions and exposure to arsenic in drinking water in Iran. Science of the total environment. 390: 1. 69-76.
33.Navas-Acien, A., Silbergeld, E.K., Streeter, R.A., Clark, J.M., Burke, T.A., and Guallar, E. 2005. Arsenic exposure and type 2 diabetes: a systematic review of the experimental and epidemiologic evidence. Environmental health perspectives. 114: 5. 641-648.
34.Nriagu, J.O., Bhattacharya, P., Mukherjee, A.B., Bundschuh, J., Zevenhoven, R., and Loeppert, R.H. 2007. Arsenic in soil and groundwater: an overview. Trace Metals and other Contaminants in the Environment. 9: 3-60.
35.Özcan, A.S., Erdem, B., and Özcan, A. 2005. Adsorption of Acid Blue 193 from aqueous solutions onto BTMA-bentonite. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects. 266: 1-3. 73-81.
36.Peng, L., Liu, Y., Sun, J., Wang, D., Dai, X., and Ni, B.J. 2017. Enhancing immobilization of arsenic in groundwater: A model-based evaluation. J. Cleaner Prod. 166: 449-457.
37.Ravenscroft, P., Brammer, H., and Richards, K. 2009. Arsenic pollution: a global synthesis. John Wiley & Sons. 28: 588.
38.Ren, Z., Zhang, G., and Chen, J.P. 2011. Adsorptive removal of arsenic from water by an iron–zirconium binary oxide adsorbent. J. Coll. Inter. Sci. 358: 1. 230-237.
39.Rosales, E., Meijide, J., Pazos, M., and Sanromán, M.A. 2017. Challenges and recent advances in biochar as low-cost biosorbent: from batch assays to continuous-flow systems. Bioresource technology. 246: 176-192.
40.Sarkar, A., and Paul, B. 2016. The global menace of arsenic and its conventional remediation-A critical review. Chemosphere. 158: 37-49.
41.Shahid, M., Niazi, N.K., Dumat, C., Naidu, R., Khalid, S., Rahman, M.M., and Bibi, I. 2018. A meta-analysis of the distribution, sources and health risks of arsenic-contaminated groundwater
in Pakistan. Environmental pollution. 242: 307-319.
42.Singh, R., Singh, S., Parihar, P., Singh, V.P., and Prasad, S.M. 2015. Arsenic contamination, consequences and remediation techniques: a review. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety. 112: 247-270.
43.Smith, A.H., and Steinmaus, C.M. 2009. Health effects of arsenic and chromium in drinking water: recent human findings. Annual review of public health. 30: 107-122.
44.Song, X., Zhou, L., Zhang, Y., Chen, P., and Yang, Z. 2019. A novel cactus-like Fe3O4/Halloysite nanocomposite for arsenite and arsenate removal from water. J. Cleaner Prod. 224: 573-582.
45.Suazo-Hernández, J., Sepúlveda, P., Manquián-Cerda, K., Ramírez-Tagle, R., Rubio, M.A., Bolan, N., Sarkar, B., and Arancibia-Miranda, N. 2019. Synthesis and characterization of zeolite-based composites functionalized with nanoscale zero-valent iron for removing arsenic in the presence of selenium from water. J. Hazard. Mater. 373: 810-819.
46.Tabaraki, R., and Heidarizadi, E. 2018. Simultaneous biosorption of Arsenic (III) and Arsenic (V): Application of multiple response optimizations. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety. 166: 35-41.
47.Thavamani, S.S., and Rajkumar, R. 2013. Removal of Cr (VI), Cu (II), Pb (II) and Ni (II) from aqueous solutions by adsorption on alumina. Res. J. Chem. Sci. 3: 8. 44-48.
48.Van Vinh, N., Zafar, M., Behera, S.K., and Park, H.S. 2015. Arsenic (III) removal from aqueous solution by raw and zinc-loaded pine cone biochar: equilibrium, kinetics and thermodynamics studies. Inter. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 12: 4. 1283-1294.
49.Wang, S., Gao, B., Li, Y., Creamer, A.E., and He, F. 2017. Adsorptive removal of arsenate from aqueous solutions by biochar supported zero-valent iron nanocomposite: batch and continuous flow tests. J. Hazard. Mater. 322: 172-181.
50.Wang, S., Gao, B., Li, Y., Wan, Y., and Creamer, A.E. 2015. Sorption of arsenate onto magnetic iron–manganese (Fe-Mn) biochar composites. RSC Advances. 5: 83. 67971-67978.
51.Wang, S., Gao, B., Li, Y., Zimmerman, A.R., and Cao, X. 2016. Sorption of arsenic onto Ni/Fe layered double hydroxide (LDH)-biochar composites. RSC Advances. 6: 22. 17792-17799.
52.Wickramasinghe, S.R., Han, B., Zimbron, J., Shen, Z., and Karim, M.N. 2004. Arsenic removal by coagulation and filtration: comparison of groundwater from the United States and Bangladesh. Desalination. 169: 3. 231-244.
53.Xia, D., Tan, F., Zhang, C., Jiang, X., Chen, Z., Li, H., Zheng, Y., Li, Q., and Wang, Y. 2016. ZnCl2-activated biochar from biogas residue facilitates aqueous As (III) removal. Applied Surface Science. 377: 361-369.
54.Yoder, J., Galinato, S., Granatstein, D., and Garcia-Perez, M. 2011. Economic tradeoff between biochar and bio-oil production via pyrolysis. Biomass and Bioenergy. 35: 5. 1851-1862.
55.Yu, Z., Zhou, L., Huang, Y., Song, Z., and Qiu, W. 2015. Effects of a manganese oxide-modified biochar composite on adsorption of arsenic in red soil. J. Environ. Manage. 163: 155-162.
56.Zhou, Q., Teng, Y., and Liu, Y. 2017. A study on soil-environmental quality criteria and standards of arsenic. Applied geochemistry. 77: 158-166.
Journal of Water and Soil Conservation
Volume 27, Issue 2
May and June 2020
Pages 127-143

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics