A kinetic study was conducted on the adsorption of orthophosphate anions on layer double hydroxide (LDH). The adsorption has proved itself to be a spontaneous endothermic process and is large in capacity and rate. The adsorption isotherm correlates well with the Freundlich model, and a rise in temperature will lead to an increase in adsorption efficiency. Additionally, the results suggested that the adsorption is an entropy-increasing process and is in good agreement with the pseudo-second order kinetics. The free energy (ΔG) of adsorption of orthophosphate onto LDH varies within the range of -1.75--3.34 kJ/mol, the enthalpy (ΔH) varies by 7.96 kJ/mol and the entropy (ΔS) by 33.59 kJ/mol. The adsorption activation energy is 8.3 kJ/mol, showing that the adsorption of orthophosphate onto LDH is determined to be a physical adsorption.
PENG Shuchuan LULu WANG Jin HAN Lu CHEN Tianhu JIANG Shaotong
A single-factor experiment of copper ion adsorption on pure palygorskite was carried out to understand the Cu2+ sorption of palygorskite—an important clay mineral in soil and sedimentary rock. In addition, pH of the solution and the surface microstructure of palygorskite were investigated before and after adsorption. The experimental results indicated that efficiency of Cu2+ removal was related to the oscillation rate of the specimen shaker, sorption time, initial pH value and the amount of adsorbent added. Palygorskite induced Cu2+ hydrolysis and interaction between copper hydroxide colloids and palygorskite surfaces, as observed with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), were the main contributions to palygorskite removal of Cu2+. This mechanism was different from adsorption at the mineral-water interface. It was proposed that surface hydrolysis of palygorskite raised the alkalinity of the palygorskite-water interface and suspension system. Thus, the induced pH of the solution was then high enough for Cu2+ hydrolysis on the mineral surface and in solution.