A novel tri-metal composite incorporated polyacrylamide hybrid material for the removal of arsenate, chromate and fluoride from aqueous media

Abstract

Excessive amounts of fluoride ions and other heavy metals in drinking water instigate a solemn threat to human health. Even though materials with specific binding ability towards these ions have been developed, it is yet a challenge to meet the practical utility of developing an efficient remedy as such. With this regard, a novel tri-metal composite incorporated polyacrylamide (TCIP) has developed. TCIP has shown a significant binding efficiency towards arsenate, chromate and fluoride ions in the presence of the other competing anions. The maximum adsorption capacities (qmax) of 43.85, 42.25 and 107.52 mg/g were achieved for arsenate, chromate and fluoride respectively at 300 K and in pH 7.00. Arsenate, chromate and fluoride adsorption is highly pH dependent. Monolayer adsorption of arsenate, chromate and fluoride ions was observed and adsorption data were found well behaved with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Arsenate, chromate and fluoride adsorption to TCIP has shown pseudo-second order adsorption kinetics, and no leaching of metal ions was observed from the metal composite into the aqueous medium