Enhanced Adsorption of Mercury(II) Ions from Aqueous Solution by Carbon-Based Adsorbents Containing Cl-, S- and N-functional Groups

Mercury (Hg) is a highly toxic metal which occurs in surface and ground waters as the Hg 2+ ion. The aim of the present study was to develop carbon-based adsorbents that contain chlorine (Cl), sulphur (S) or nitrogen (N) functional groups in an attempt to enhance the removal of Hg 2+ ions from aqueo...

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Main Authors: Jianzhong Zhu, Baolin Deng, John Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2008-12-01
Series:Adsorption Science & Technology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1260/026361708788708306
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author Jianzhong Zhu
Baolin Deng
John Yang
author_facet Jianzhong Zhu
Baolin Deng
John Yang
author_sort Jianzhong Zhu
collection DOAJ
description Mercury (Hg) is a highly toxic metal which occurs in surface and ground waters as the Hg 2+ ion. The aim of the present study was to develop carbon-based adsorbents that contain chlorine (Cl), sulphur (S) or nitrogen (N) functional groups in an attempt to enhance the removal of Hg 2+ ions from aqueous environments. Thus, activated carbon (AC) was oxidized by treatment with nitric acid and then with thionyl chloride, followed by reaction with ethylenediamine, dithio-oxamide and 1,2-ethanedithiol, respectively. Such chemically-modified activated carbons were characterized by scanning electron microscopy in conjunction with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and potentiometry. Batch experiments to study the kinetics and equilibrium of Hg 2+ ion adsorption were performed to evaluate the efficacy of the functionalized carbon adsorbents. Sample characterizations indicated that chlorine, sulphur or nitrogen functional groups were effectively immobilized onto the activated carbon surface, thereby generating more negative surface charges favouring cation adsorption. Adsorption kinetics and equilibrium experiments showed that Hg 2+ ion adsorption by activated carbons modified with ethylenediamine (ACNN), dithio-oxamide (ACNS) and 1,2-ethanedithiol (ACSS) was fast (e.g. ACNN < 30 min) and had a high capacity (e.g. ACNN =/> 200%) over AC. The adsorptive capacity decreased in the order ACNN (120 mg/g) > ACSS (105 mg/g) > ACNS (90 mg/g) > AC (60 mg/g), suggesting a high Hg 2+ ion affinity for the modified carbons.
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spelling doaj-art-0f5aa817d6c148ed9592393efa7bbb632025-01-03T00:10:40ZengSAGE PublishingAdsorption Science & Technology0263-61742048-40382008-12-012610.1260/026361708788708306Enhanced Adsorption of Mercury(II) Ions from Aqueous Solution by Carbon-Based Adsorbents Containing Cl-, S- and N-functional GroupsJianzhong Zhu0Baolin Deng1John Yang2 Center of Environmental Sciences, Lincoln University of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO 65102, U.S.A. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, U.S.A. Center of Environmental Sciences, Lincoln University of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO 65102, U.S.A.Mercury (Hg) is a highly toxic metal which occurs in surface and ground waters as the Hg 2+ ion. The aim of the present study was to develop carbon-based adsorbents that contain chlorine (Cl), sulphur (S) or nitrogen (N) functional groups in an attempt to enhance the removal of Hg 2+ ions from aqueous environments. Thus, activated carbon (AC) was oxidized by treatment with nitric acid and then with thionyl chloride, followed by reaction with ethylenediamine, dithio-oxamide and 1,2-ethanedithiol, respectively. Such chemically-modified activated carbons were characterized by scanning electron microscopy in conjunction with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and potentiometry. Batch experiments to study the kinetics and equilibrium of Hg 2+ ion adsorption were performed to evaluate the efficacy of the functionalized carbon adsorbents. Sample characterizations indicated that chlorine, sulphur or nitrogen functional groups were effectively immobilized onto the activated carbon surface, thereby generating more negative surface charges favouring cation adsorption. Adsorption kinetics and equilibrium experiments showed that Hg 2+ ion adsorption by activated carbons modified with ethylenediamine (ACNN), dithio-oxamide (ACNS) and 1,2-ethanedithiol (ACSS) was fast (e.g. ACNN < 30 min) and had a high capacity (e.g. ACNN =/> 200%) over AC. The adsorptive capacity decreased in the order ACNN (120 mg/g) > ACSS (105 mg/g) > ACNS (90 mg/g) > AC (60 mg/g), suggesting a high Hg 2+ ion affinity for the modified carbons.https://doi.org/10.1260/026361708788708306
spellingShingle Jianzhong Zhu
Baolin Deng
John Yang
Enhanced Adsorption of Mercury(II) Ions from Aqueous Solution by Carbon-Based Adsorbents Containing Cl-, S- and N-functional Groups
Adsorption Science & Technology
title Enhanced Adsorption of Mercury(II) Ions from Aqueous Solution by Carbon-Based Adsorbents Containing Cl-, S- and N-functional Groups
title_full Enhanced Adsorption of Mercury(II) Ions from Aqueous Solution by Carbon-Based Adsorbents Containing Cl-, S- and N-functional Groups
title_fullStr Enhanced Adsorption of Mercury(II) Ions from Aqueous Solution by Carbon-Based Adsorbents Containing Cl-, S- and N-functional Groups
title_full_unstemmed Enhanced Adsorption of Mercury(II) Ions from Aqueous Solution by Carbon-Based Adsorbents Containing Cl-, S- and N-functional Groups
title_short Enhanced Adsorption of Mercury(II) Ions from Aqueous Solution by Carbon-Based Adsorbents Containing Cl-, S- and N-functional Groups
title_sort enhanced adsorption of mercury ii ions from aqueous solution by carbon based adsorbents containing cl s and n functional groups
url https://doi.org/10.1260/026361708788708306
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AT baolindeng enhancedadsorptionofmercuryiiionsfromaqueoussolutionbycarbonbasedadsorbentscontainingclsandnfunctionalgroups
AT johnyang enhancedadsorptionofmercuryiiionsfromaqueoussolutionbycarbonbasedadsorbentscontainingclsandnfunctionalgroups