Tetravalent manganese feroxyhyte: a novel nanoadsorbent equally selective for As(III) and As(V) removal from drinking water

Environ Sci Technol. 2013 Sep 3;47(17):9699-705. doi: 10.1021/es4009932. Epub 2013 Aug 13.

Abstract

The development of a single-phase Fe/Mn oxy-hydroxide (δ-Fe0.76Mn0.24OOH), highly efficient at adsorbing both As(III) and As(V), is reported. Its synthesis involves the coprecipitation of FeSO4 and KMnO4 in a kilogram-scale continuous process, in acidic and strongly oxidizing environments. The produced material was identified as a manganese feroxyhyte in which tetravalent manganese is homogeneously distributed into the crystal unit, whereas a second-order hollow spherical morphology is favored. According to this structuration, the oxy-hydroxide maintains the high adsorption capacity for As(V) of a single Fe oxy-hydroxide combined with enhanced As(III) removal based on the oxidizing mediation of Mn(IV). Ion-exchange between arsenic species and sulfates as well as the strongly positive surface charge further facilitate arsenic adsorption. Batch adsorption tests performed in natural-like water indicate that Mn(IV)-feroxyhyte can remove 11.7 μg As(V)/mg and 6.7 μg As(III)/mg at equilibrium pH 7, before residual concentration overcomes the regulation limit of 10 μg As/L for drinking water. The improved efficiency of this material, its low cost, and the possibility for scaling-up its production to industry indicate the high practical impact and environmental importance of this novel adsorbent.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Arsenic / chemistry*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Drinking Water / chemistry*
  • Ferric Compounds / chemical synthesis
  • Ferric Compounds / chemistry*
  • Manganese / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / chemistry*
  • Water Purification / methods*
  • X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy

Substances

  • Drinking Water
  • Ferric Compounds
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • ferric hydroxide
  • Manganese
  • Arsenic