Magnetized manganese oxide nanocomposite for effective decontamination of Cd(II) from wastewaters.

In this study, a composite with magnetic properties has been successfully synthesized by a novel and environmentally friendly route and is applied to Cd(II) adsorption for water decontamination. The quantification of the phases obtained by Rietveld refinement has shown the presence of 84% of Mn3O4 and 16% of Fe3O4. Transmission electron microscopy image shows an aggregate of Mn3O4 nanoparticles without specific orientation and the predominance of octahedral morphology with nanoparticles size estimated around 25-30 nm. The Cd(II) adsorption isotherm is fitted using the Langmuir-Freundlich model. The estimated maximum adsorption capacities of Cd(II) at pH 6 and 7 are similar (0.28 ± 0.02 and 0.31 ± 0.02 mg/m2, respectively). The kinetic results show that the studied system follows the pseudo-second-order model. The Raman results indicate that Cd is being specifically adsorbed by the Mn3O4 in the composite. The hysteresis curve of the composite Mn3O4/Fe3O4 has changed when compared to the pure magnetite; however, the coercive field after the addition of manganese oxide remains unaltered and does not change with a value around 158 Oe. The turbidity tests showed that the magnetic sedimentation was efficient and promising for wastewater treatment in large scale. These materials can be conveniently recovered by magnetic separation, avoiding the filtration steps, which will make easier the solid-liquid separation operation that follows the adsorption process.

Raman and IR spectroscopic investigation of As adsorbed on Mn3O4 magnetic composites.

Raman and IR spectra were recorded of the As-loaded Mn(3)O(4) magnetic composites obtained from the adsorption studies performed with As(III). XANES results for the composite after As(III) removal tests show that the As adsorbed is at the oxidized arsenic form, As(V). Monodentate and bidentate surface complexes are suggested for arsenic adsorption onto the composite (5-16 mg/g). Precipitation of manganese arsenate is observed for high As loading (35 mg/g).

A comparative study of As(III) and As(V) in aqueous solutions and adsorbed on iron oxy-hydroxides by Raman spectroscopy.

The sorption of the arsenite (AsO(3)(3-)) and the arsenate (AsO(4)(3-)) ions and their conjugate acids onto iron oxides is one of main processes controlling the distribution of arsenic in the environment. The present work intends to provide a large vibrational spectroscopic database for comparison of As(III) and As(V) speciation in aqueous solutions and at the iron oxide - solution interface. With this purpose, ferrihydrite, feroxyhyte, goethite and hematite were firstly synthesized, characterized in detail and used for adsorption experiments. Raman spectra were recorded from As(III) and As(V) aqueous solutions at various pH conditions selected in order to highlight arsenic speciation. Raman Scattering and Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform (DRIFT) studies were carried out to examine the respective As-bonding mechanisms. The collected data were curve-fitted and discussed according to molecular symmetry concepts. X-ray Absorption Near Edge Spectroscopy (XANES) was applied to confirm the oxidation state of the sorbed species. The comprehensive spectroscopic investigation contributes to a better understanding of arsenic complexation by iron oxides.