Rapid removal of arsenic(V) by zirconium(IV) loaded phosphoric chelate adsorbent synthesized by radiation induced graft polymerization

Fibrous arsenic(As) adsorbent was synthesized by loading zirconium(Zr) on fibrous phosphoric adsorbent which was directly synthesized by radiation-induced grafting of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate phosphoric acid on polyethylene-coated polypropylene nonwoven fabric. Zirconium reacted with phosphoric acid grafted in the polyethylene layer. Zirconium density of the resulting adsorbent was 4.1 mmol/g. The breakthrough curve of As(V) adsorption was independent of the flow rate up to 1300 h(-1) in space velocity. The total capacity of As(V) was 2.0 mmol/g-adsorbent at pH of 2. The adsorbed Zr(IV) could be evaluated by 0.4 M sodium hydroxide solution because no Zr(IV) could be found in the eluted solution. Anions of chloride and nitrate interfered the breakthrough capacity. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.