Kinetic equilibrium and thermodynamic study of arsenic removal from water using alumina supported iron nano particles

In the present study attempt was made to synthesize iron nanoparticles in the presence of alumina (Al-nZVI) by sodium borohydride reduction process. The composite adsorbent has been characterized using various analytical techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).The batch adsorption experiment has been carried out to study the effect of different parameters. The maximum removal of As(III) was obtained at optimal condition of pH 7.0 and dose = 1 g/L has been observed to be 99.9% with contact time of 60 min temperature 50C and initial concentration 10 mg/L. With the synthesized adsorbent residual As(III) was below permissible limit (10 mu g/L). The adsorption data fitted that pseudo second order kinetics and followed Langmuir isotherm model with maximum adsorption capacity of 15.50 mg/g. Thermodynamic study reveals the endothermic nature of adsorption. Alumina has been chosen as support due to easy separation after treatment; provide mechanical strength and ability to withstand wider operating conditions. The size of iron nanoparticles synthesized lie within 40-100 nm range.