Multifunctional kaolinite-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron used for the adsorption and degradation of crystal violet in aqueous solution

• Published in: Journal of colloid and interface science Vol. 398; pp. 59 - 66
• Main Authors: Chen, Zhengxian, Wang, Ting, Jin, Xiaoyin, Chen, Zuliang, Megharaj, Mallavarapu, Naidu, Ravendra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 15-05-2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adsorption; Adsorption and reduction; Chemistry; Crystal violet; Degradation; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Iron; Kaolinite; Kaolinite-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron; Kinetics; Mathematical models; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; Reduction; Solid-liquid interface; Surface physical chemistry; Adsorption and reduction; Crystal violet; Kinetics; Kaolinite-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron; Support; Transition metal; Iron; Degradation; Chemical reduction; Nanometer scale; Kaolinite-supported nanoscale zero-valent; Adsorption; Kaolinite; Methylrosanilinium chloride; Aqueous solution
• ISSN: 0021-9797; 1095-7103
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2013.02.020

[Display omitted]
► Nanoscale zero-valent iron (K–nZVI) as a multifunctional composite. ► Kaolin decreased the aggregation of nZVI and adsorption of crystal violet (CV). ► The CV reduced by nZVI on the nZVI/K. ► The mechanism of adsorption and reduction of methyl orange by B–nZVI.
Kaolinite-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron (K–nZVI) was successfully synthesized as a multifunctional composite and used for the degradation of crystal violet (CV). The presence of kaolinite not only decreased the aggregation of zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) with maintenance of reactivity, but also facilitated reaction by increasing the local concentration of CV in the vicinity of nZVI as an adsorbent. This was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and batch experiments, which showed that 97.23% of CV was removed using K–nZVI, while only 78.72% and 39.22% of CV were removed using nZVI and kaolinite after 30min, respectively. Different factors impacting on degradation of CV were investigated as well. On the basis of these results, a removal mechanism was proposed including: (i) prompt adsorption of CV to the K–nZVI phase, and (ii) reduction of CV by Fe0 on K–nZVI. Furthermore, different adsorption and reduction kinetics were employed to examine the removal process of CV, where a better fit with the pseudo-second-order model for adsorption and pseudo-first-order model for reduction process was observed, and reduction was the rate limiting step. In addition, isotherm and thermodynamic parameters were evaluated for a specific study of the important adsorption step. Finally, the application of K–nZVI to treat wastewater showed the removal efficiency higher than 99.9%.