Selenium oxyanions: Highly selective uptake by a novel anion exchanger

Abstract

We report the extremely high and selective uptake of selenium oxyanions by a novel anion exchanger, Ni1-xZn2x(OH)2(OCOCH3)2xnH2O (0.15<x<0.25). The tested Ni–Zn basic salt (x=0.24) exhibited very high selectivity for Se(IV) [Kd = 9.0 × 104 cm3/g with an initial Se(IV) concentration of 1 × 10-4 M] in the presence of 0.1 M C1− solution. The uptake of Se(IV) on the Ni–Zn basic salt was irreversible when treated with solutions containing 1 N C1− 1N NO3− or 1 N PO43−This novel exchanger also showed high Kd (2.6 × 103 cm3/g) for Se(VI), and therefore it is expected to be useful for decontamination and removal of selenium oxyanions from contaminated water.