Fabrication of a New Hydrous Zr(IV) Oxide-Based Nanocomposite for Enhanced Pb(II) and Cd(II) Removal from Waters

Abstract

To overcome the technical bottleneck of fine hydrated Zr(IV) oxide particles in environmental remediation, we irreversibly impregnated nanosized hydrated Zr(IV) oxide inside a commercial cation exchange resin D-001 and obtained a new nanocomposite NZP. NZP exhibited efficient removal of lead and cadmium ions in a pH range of 2-6, where no Zr(IV) leaching was detected from NZP. As compared to D-001, NZP showed more preferable adsorption toward both toxic metals from the background Ca(II) solution at greater levels. The synthetic Pb(II) or Cd(II) solution containing other ubiquitous metal ions was employed as the feeding influent for column adsorption, and the results indicated that the treatable volume of NZP is around 3-4 times that of D-001 before reaching the breakthrough point set according to the effluent discharge standard of China. With respect to Pb(II) removal from an acidic mining effluent, the treatable volume of NZP was 13 times higher than that of D-001. The exhausted NZP could be effectively regenerated by HNO3-Ca(NO3)2 binary solution for repeated use without any significant capacity loss. The superior performance of NZP was attributed to the Donnan membrane effect exerted by the host D-001 as well as the impregnated HZO nanoparticles of specific interaction toward toxic metals, as confirmed by the comparative isothermal adsorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic study.

Ultrafast Removal of Cadmium(II) by Green Cyclodextrin Metal–Organic‐Framework‐Based Nanoporous Carbon: Adsorption Mechanism and Application

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Polymer functionalized nanocomposites for metals removal from water and wastewater: An overview

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Polymers and nanocomposites: synthesis and metal ion pollutant uptake

“…Recently, Hua et al impregnated nano‐sized hydrated Zr(IV) oxide inside a commercial cation exchange resin, D001, and obtained a new nanocomposite with efficient removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions in the pH range 2–6 without leaching of nanoparticles. Regarding the mechanism, the adsorbent exhibited non‐specific ion exchange by the sulfonate groups of D001 and specific inner‐sphere complexation by the entrapped hydrous zirconium oxide (HZO) nanoparticles …”

“…Regarding the mechanism, the adsorbent exhibited non-specific ion exchange by the sulfonate groups of D001 and specific inner-sphere complexation by the entrapped hydrous zirconium oxide (HZO) nanoparticles. 128 Ferric-oxide-loaded glycidylmethacrylate-based polymers were investigated for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. The adsorbents showed good adsorption capacity for Cr(VI) ions and good chemical stability in a wide pH range because the crosslinked polymers have advantages over other polymer supports due to ease of functionalization through the epoxide groups involved and resistance of their ester linkage to acid and to base hydrolysis.…”