Gibbsite
(GB) was prepared in this work by calcination between (200
and 1000) °C (GB200 and GB1000, respectively). Properties of
the GBs prepared over this range of temperatures, such as their morphologies,
crystallinities, specific surface areas, the number of hydroxyl groups,
pore volumes, and mean pore diameters were investigated. The amount
of Au(III) adsorbed onto the GBs was also evaluated. Our findings
show that the amount of Au(III) adsorbed onto the GBs is related to
the specific surface area and the number of hydroxyl groups. In this
study, GB400, that is, GB calcined at 400 °C, had the largest
specific surface area and number of hydroxyl groups, as well as the
largest amount of adsorbed Au(III). Furthermore, the most suitable
pH for the adsorption of Au(III) onto GB400 was approximately 6.0,
and the gold chloro-hydroxy species [AuCl2(OH)2]− was selectively adsorbed at this temperature.
The equilibrium for adsorption was reached within 24 h, and the experimental
data were fit to the pseudo-second-order model. The adsorption isotherm
data were better characterized by the Langmuir model than the Freundlich
model. The presence of chloride ions (Cl–) affected
the adsorption of Au(III) onto GB400. The increase of ΔG with temperature showed that the adsorption was endothermic
and more favorable at higher temperatures. The positive ΔH values also indicated that Au(III) adsorption on GB400
was endothermic. The positive ΔS values suggest
an increase in randomness at the solid–solution interface during
the adsorption process. GB400 could be used for at least three Au(III)
adsorption/desorption cycles. Collectively, these results suggest
that GB400 would be useful for the adsorption of Au(III) from aqueous
solutions.