Enhanced removal of As(V) from water with iron-coated spent catalyst

The effectiveness of pretreating a spent catalyst with an iron-salt solution to improve its As(V) removal capacity was studied. Various factors, such as types and concentrations of iron salt, pH, and initial As(V) concentration were investigated for their effects on the improvement of As(V) removal capacity. A significant increase in As(V) removal capacity can be achieved by iron-coated spent catalyst. Adsorption density of As(V) decreased with increasing pH. Langmuir adsorption isotherm was utilized to describe the adsorption reaction. Results from IR analysis and zeta potential measurement indicate that As(V) is specifically adsorbed onto iron-coated spent catalyst. This study shows that spent catalyst can be converted to a useful adsorbent for As(V) removal.