Cr6+ adsorption by modified vermiculite

<p><strong>Abstract</strong>: <strong>Cr<sup>6+</sup> adsorption by modified vermiculite</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Valeria Medoro- University of Ferrara , Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, Italy</p><p>Celia Marcos Pascual-University of Oviedo, Department of Geology, Spain</p><p>Giacomo Ferretti- University of Ferrara , Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, Italy</p><p>Giulio Galamini- University of Ferrara , Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, Italy</p><p>Massimo Coltorti- University of Ferrara , Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, Italy</p><p> </p><p>This work aimed at investigating the adsorption of Cr<sup>6+</sup> in water by exfoliated vermiculite. The adsorbant tested in this experiment was a vermiculite (from China) which has been subjected to heating at 1000 °C for 1 minute, resulting in an exfoliated vermiculite.</p><p>Three effects were studied: 1) contact time; 2) initial concentracion of Cr<sup>6+</sup>; 3) adsorbent mass. Samples were analysed by X Ray Fluorescence (XRF), X Ray Diffraction (XRD) and the solutions with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to quantify the adsorbed Cr<sup>6+</sup> by the vermiculite.</p><p>Results from XRD diffraction showed a conversion of vermiculite into flogopite  after heating at 1000°C for 1 minute because of: 1) high content of potassium, 2) dehydration and 3) structural re-ordering; after the contact of vermiculite with Cr<sup>6+</sup>, the mineral structure did not change. The adsorption of Cr<sup>6+</sup> was studied by Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Kaganer-Radushkevich (DKR) isotherm models. DKR model, indicative of a cooperative process, described adsorption equilibrium better than the other two models and the maximum adsorption capacity obtained was of 2.81 mol/g. Kinetic was studied using pseudo-first and pseudo-second order kinetic models, with a better description of the process by pseudo-second order model with correlation coefficient almost unitary (R<sup>2</sup>=0.9984; other kinetic parameters were k<sub>2</sub>=0.0015 and the absorption initial rate of 0.2x10<sup>-8</sup> mg g<sup>-1</sup> h<sup>-1</sup>). </p><p>The present study demonstrates the effectiveness of modified vermiculite adsorbents for the treatment of hexavalent chromium-contaminated waters and that its adsorption depends on the experimental conditions (such as contact time, initial concentracion of Cr<sup>6+</sup> and adsorbent mass).</p>