The aim of this work is to show that metallurgical slag (SL) can be used as an efficient and more economical adsorbent, as compared to zerovalent iron nanoparticles (nano-Fe0, a commercial material). The kinetics data were fitted to the pseudo-second order model and results obtained at equilibrium to the Langmuir isotherm model. At the best conditions, the removal efficiencies of As (initial concentration of 6 mg/L) were 93.36% (in 2.5 h, 7 g SL/L, pH= 10) and 98.86% (in 1.5 h, 1 g nano-Fe0/L, pH= 8). At these conditions the cost of SL is 4,300 times more economic than nano-Fe0. It was shown by X-ray diffraction analysis that the high removal of As exhibited by SL it's mainly due to the presence of maghemite (54.85%), which is a mineral reported to remove this pollutant. The use of SL instead of expensive commercial adsorbents is an innovation of this process making it sustainable for water treatment.

Metallurgical slag as an efficient and economical adsorbent of arsenic: A comparative study with zerovalent iron nanoparticles

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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