Removal of Arsenic (V) from Aqueous Solutions Using Chitosan–Red Scoria and Chitosan–Pumice Blends

Tsegaye Girma Asere, Stein Mincke, Jeriffa De Clercq, Kim Verbeken, Dejene A. Tessema, Fekadu Fufa, Christian V. Stevens and Gijs Du Laing
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Tsegaye Girma Asere: Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and Applied Ecochemistry, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Stein Mincke: Department of Sustainable Organic Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Jeriffa De Clercq: Department of Chemical Engineering and Technical Chemistry, Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Kim Verbeken: Department of Materials, Textiles and Chemical Engineering, Ghent University, Technologiepark 903, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
Dejene A. Tessema: Department of Chemistry, Welkite University, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region, P.O. Box 07, Welkite, Ethiopia
Fekadu Fufa: Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, Jimma University, P.O. Box 378, Jimma Ethiopia
Christian V. Stevens: Department of Sustainable Organic Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Gijs Du Laing: Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and Applied Ecochemistry, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 8, 1-19

Abstract: In different regions across the globe, elevated arsenic contents in the groundwater constitute a major health problem. In this work, a biopolymer chitosan has been blended with volcanic rocks (red scoria and pumice) for arsenic (V) removal. The effect of three blending ratios of chitosan and volcanic rocks (1:2, 1:5 and 1:10) on arsenic removal has been studied. The optimal blending ratio was 1:5 (chitosan: volcanic rocks) with maximum adsorption capacity of 0.72 mg/g and 0.71 mg/g for chitosan: red scoria (Ch–Rs) and chitosan: pumice (Ch–Pu), respectively. The experimental adsorption data fitted well a Langmuir isotherm ( R 2 > 0.99) and followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. The high stability of the materials and their high arsenic (V) removal efficiency (~93%) in a wide pH range (4 to 10) are useful for real field applications. Moreover, the blends could be regenerated using 0.05 M NaOH and used for several cycles without losing their original arsenic removal efficiency. The results of the study demonstrate that chitosan-volcanic rock blends should be further explored as a potential sustainable solution for removal of arsenic (V) from water.

Keywords: red scoria; pumice; chitosan; arsenic; adsorption (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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