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Simultaneous removal of chromium(VI) and Reactive Black 5 using zeolite supported nano-scale zero-valent iron composite

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Abstract

Pollution due to heavy metals and dyes has become a major global environmental issue. Simultaneous removal of heavy metals and dyes from wastewater remains a major challenge. In this study, a zeolite supported nano-scale zero-valent iron (Z-nZVI) composite was innovatively used for the simultaneous removal of Cr(VI) and Reactive Black 5 from aqueous solution. Experiments were carried out at different pH values (2–8) and adsorbent dosages (0.2–1 g L−1). The maximum removal was found to be 99% for both Cr(VI) and Reactive Black 5 (RB5) at pH 3 with initial RB5 concentration 85 mg L−1, Cr(VI) concentration 23 mg L−1 and adsorbent dosage 1 g L−1. A Freundlich model showed a satisfactory fit to the equilibrium adsorption data of a Z-nZVI composite with a correlation coefficient R 2 = 0.9790 for RB5 and R 2 = 0.9726 for Cr(VI). The kinetics of adsorption followed a pseudo-first-order model. The results of the study indicated that a Z-nZVI composite could potentially be used for the simultaneous removal of metals and dyes from wastewater.

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Acknowledgments

This paper was supported by research funds of Korea Ministry of Environment as “Eco Innovation project” (Project No. 2013001470006). The preparation of manuscript was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the government (MEST; No. 2011-0020202).

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Correspondence to Byung-Taek Oh.

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S. A. Kim and S. Kamala-Kannan made equal contributions to this work.

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Kim, S.A., Kamala-Kannan, S., Oh, SG. et al. Simultaneous removal of chromium(VI) and Reactive Black 5 using zeolite supported nano-scale zero-valent iron composite. Environ Earth Sci 75, 447 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4855-z

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