• Resources Recycling
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• v.15 no.5 s.73
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• pp.38-46
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• 2006

The removal of arsenic(V) using four different natural minerals were evaluated. Parameters like contact time, pH, adsorbent dosages, and As(V) concentration were optimized. The kinetics of adsorption was observed to be fast and reached equilibrium within 2h. As(V) adsorption on studied minerals was dependent on pH and followed a pseudo-second-order reaction model. For kaolin, maximum adsorption was found at pH 5.0. Whereas, in case of other three minerals, a pH range of 6.0-7.0 was found to be the best for As(V) adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacity (Q) was calculated by fitting Langmuir equation to the adsorption isotherms obtained under a specified condition. From the slope of best fit, the Q values were calculated to be 2.07, 2.15, 1.95 and 0.86 mg As(V)/g of bauxite, wad, iron ore and kaolin, respectively. Desorption of As(V) from loaded materials was dependent on the type of leaching reagents used. Based on the results, it was found that among the studied natural minerals, wad was the best As(V) adsorbent.