Facile Fabrication of Fe2O3/TiO2 Composite from Titanium Slag as Adsorbent for As(V) Removal from Aqueous Media

Abstract

Mixed metal oxide composites have been widely used as adsorbents for the removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater. In this work, Fe2O3/TiO2 composite was sustainably prepared via the treatment of titanium slag with a low-concentration sulfuric acid solution (20%) and used for the removal of As(V) from aqueous solutions. The resulting products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption−desorption, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The batch adsorption was employed to investigate the removal efficiency of the Fe2O3/TiO2 adsorbent toward As(V). The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were plotted in order to study the adsorption process. The adsorption of As(V) on FeO3/TiO2 fitted well with the Freundlich isotherm model, suggesting a multilayer adsorption process with an adsorption capacity of 68.26 mg·g−1. The adsorption kinetics study demonstrated that the adsorption behavior of the Fe2O3/TiO2 composite for the As(V) was pseudo-second-order. With low-cost preparation and high adsorption capacity, the prepared Fe2O3/TiO2 adsorbent could be used as an effective adsorbent for As(V) removal from contaminated water sources. The approach utilized in this research is viewed as a sustainable route for creating a proficient adsorbent for the purification of water.