Preparation and characterization of iron-exchanged redmud for arsenic adsorption efficiency

Abstract

This study investigated the effectiveness of raw redmud and iron exchanged redmud for arsenic (As) adsorption efficiency at different time intervals. Due to the raw red mud’s low arsenic absorption efficiency percentage, alkaline nature, less specific surface area, and poor selectivity, unmodified redmud are less effective than modified redmud in capturing arsenic from contaminated environments. Iron exchanged redmud have been developed to absorb arsenic in contaminated environments. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Specific surface area (SSA), and Cation exchange capacity (CEC), were used to analyse the surface morphology, composition, surface area and surface charge of the raw and Iron-exchanged redmud. Adsorption efficiency of arsenic on raw redmud and iron exchanged redmud were studied in a controlled laboratory condition at various times. Iron exchanged redmud was shown to be more successful in arsenic adsorption efficiency than raw redmud in the study.