Arsenic Removal from Water Samples Using CeO2/Fe2O3 Nanocomposite

In the present study, CeO2/Fe2O3 nanocomposite was prepared by co-precipitation method and its application was investigated for arsenic removal from water. Characterization of the nano sized adsorbent particles was carried out using SEM and XRD techniques. Systemic adsorption experiments were performed in batch systems and the optimum conditions were obtained. The effects of pH, contact time, adsorbent mass, temperature, ionic strength and initial concentration of arsenic were investigated on kinetics and equilibrium of the adsorption. Thermodynamic parameters and adsorption kinetics were studied in detailed to know the nature and mechanism of adsorption. Kinetic studies showed that the adsorption process followed pseudo second order kinetic model. The thermodynamic parameters such as ΔG⁰, ΔS⁰ and ΔH⁰ were calculated, and it was found that the reaction was spontaneous and exothermic in nature. Adsorption equilibrium was studied using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. It was observed that the investigated adsorption process followed Freundlich isotherm. Adsorption capacity (q0) calculated from Langmuir isotherm was found to be 8.260 mg.g-1.The results showed that CeO2/Fe2O3 nanocomposite particles can be effectively used for the removal of As(III) ions from aqueous solutions.