Zhe Yang

Vanadium (V(V)) removal from simulation water (SW) was successfully accomplished using nanoscale zero-valent iron that was immobilized by activated carbon (NZVI/AC) which was used as an adsorbent. We investigated the effects of different parameters on V(V) removal, such as pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), common ions and adsorption kinetics for SW. The intraparticle diffusion model fits this study well (R² > 0.9) according to the results of the kinetics investigation which showed that the adsorption of vanadium by NZVI/AC was rapid in the first 12 h and that equilibrium was reached in about 72 h. The amount of V(V) that was removed from the solution increased when it was subjected to pH 2 to pH 8, and this decreased after pH 8. While the effects of other anions and humic acid were negligible, the elimination of V(V) was significantly reduced by using phosphate and silicate. Fe²⁺ and Al³⁺, two common metal cations, improved the V(V) adsorption. High oxygen levels impeded the vanadium elimination, while anoxic conditions encouraged it. Elution with 0.1 M NaOH can be used to renew NZVI/AC in an efficient manner.

The effectiveness of nanoscale zero-valent iron(nZVI) immobilized on activated carbon (nZVI/AC) in removing antimonite (Sb(III)) from simulated contaminated water was investigated with and without a magnetic fix-bed column reactor. The experiments were all conducted in fixed-bed columns. A weak magnetic field (WMF) was proposed to increase the exclusion of paramagnetic Sb(III) ions by nZVI/AC. The Sb(III) adsorption to the nZVI and AC surfaces, as well as the transformation of Sb(III) to Sb(V) by them, were both increased by using a WMF in nZVI/AC. The increased sequestration of Sb(III) by nZVI/AC in the presence of WMF was followed by faster nZVI corrosion and dissolution. Experiments were conducted as a function of the pH of the feed solution (pH 5.0–9.0), liquid flow rate (5–15 mL·min⁻¹), starting Sb(III) concentration (0.5–1.5 mg·L⁻¹), bed height nZVI/AC (10–40 cm), and starting Sb(III) concentration (0.5–1.5 mg·L⁻¹). By analyzing the breakthrough curves generated by different flow rates, different pH values, different inlet Sb(III) concentrations, and different bed heights, the adsorbed amounts, equilibrium nZVI uptakes, and total Sb(III) removal percentage were calculated in relation to effluent volumes. At pH 5.0, the longest nZVI breakthrough time and maximal Sb(III) adsorption were achieved. The findings revealed that the column performed effectively at the lowest flow rate. With increasing bed height, column bed capacity and exhaustion time increased as well. Increasing the Sb(III) initial concentration from 0.5 to 1.5 mg·L⁻¹ resulted in the rise of adsorption bed capacity from 3.45 to 6.33 mg·g⁻¹.