Bifunctional Adsorbents Based on Jarosites for Removal of Inorganic Micropollutants from Water

Abstract

This paper presents a novel family of jarosites with the molecular formula MFe3(SO4)2(OH)6·xH2O; M = Na, K, NH4 that have high efficiency in the adsorption of As(V) and Pb(II) dissolved in water. The jarosites have been prepared by conventional heating at temperatures close to 95 °C for 3 h. The synthesis method was improved and optimized to reduce the time and energy consumption. The improved conventional heating method allowed for the synthesis of Na− and K−jarosites with a yield of up to 97.8 wt.% at 105 and 150 °C, respectively, in 3 h. The Na−, K−, and NH4−jarosites were synthesized at 150 °C in 5 min via a microwave-assisted method, which yielded jarosite crystalline agglomerates with more uniform topography, shape, and size than the conventional method. Both methods allowed the selective synthesis of jarosites. Chemical decomposition of jarosites suspended in water occurred at a pH less than 2 and higher than 10 and temperatures up to 150 °C. In the solid state, the jarosites were thermally stable at least to 300 °C. The Na−jarosite presented a maximum adsorption capacity (Qmax) of 65.6 mg g−1 for As(V) and 94 mg g−1 for Pb(II). The jarosites are considered promising bifunctional adsorbents for the remediation of contaminated water due to their improved synthesis method, stability, and high adsorption capacity for ions of different natures.

The Development of Fe3O4-Monolithic Resorcinol-Formaldehyde Carbon Xerogels Using Ultrasonic-Assisted Synthesis for Arsenic Removal of Drinking Water

“…Some emerging arsenic adsorbents are chemically modified zeolites [ 22 ], zeolitic imidazole frameworks [ 23 ], lanthanum hydroxide–doped graphene oxide biopolymer foam [ 24 ], metal–organic framework-based composite materials [ 25 ], and jarosites [ 26 ]. The vast majority of reported adsorbents are micro or nanometer-size powders; although some of these materials have a high adsorption capacity for micropollutants from water, their application at the pilot plant or industrial level is limited by the difficulty of separating the adsorbent from the treated water.…”

Mild Conditions Method to Remediate Hazardous Jarosite and Its Application as Adsorbent of Arsenic(V) and Water

“…One of the commonly used strategies used in the metallurgical industry to separate iron (Fe) and other heavy metals from a zinc (Zn) solution involves the formation of solid jarosites. Jarosite typically has the molecular formula of AFe(TO 4 ) 2 OH 6 • n H 2 O, where: A = Na + , NH 4 + , Zn 2+ , Cd 2+ , Pb 2+ , Ag + , Cu 2+ , others; T = S 6+ , Mo 6+ , Cr 6+ , As 5+ , others [1][2][3]. The electrolytic zinc refinery located in San Luis Potosí, México, is one of the largest plants in Latin America to manufacture metallic zinc.…”