Nanoclay-supported zero-valent iron as an efficient adsorbent material for arsenic

The release of arsenic to aqueous environment imposes threats to human health. Montmorillonite supported zero-valent iron (ZVI-MMT) is a material with capability of immobilizing arsenic from aqueous environment. The arsenic adsorption efficiency of ZVI-MMT was obtained. In addition, adsorption kinetics of arsenic contaminated water on the material was determined. Arsenic and iron content was quantified by an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS), interplanar distance of the adsorbent was measured by x-ray diffractometer (XRD), and the morphology of the adsorbent was obtained from a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Isotherm data were analyzed using the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The data fitted well to Langmuir isotherm with derived adsorption capacity of 20.1 mg/g. Kinetics data were analyzed using intra-particle model, Elovich equation, pseudo first-, and pseudo second-order models. Elovich equation and pseudo second-order equation fitted the experimental data with pseudo second-order rate constant of 61.2 × 10^-4 g/mg-min.