Abstract
Composite nanostructures containing iron in different forms exhibit a high adsorption capacity with respect to arsenic. The aim of our study was to investigate the adsorption activity of an adsorbent composite prepared by the oxidation of bimetallic Al/Fe nanoparticles under different conditions. Depending on the oxidation conditions, nanostructures with different morphologies in the form of nanosheets, nanoplates and nanorods with different compositions and textural characteristics could be obtained. The nanostructures obtained had a positive zeta potential and were characterized by a high specific surface area: 330 m(2)/g for the AlOOH/FeAl(2) nanosheets; 75 m(2)/g for the AlOOH/Fe(2)O(3)/FeAl(2) nanoplates; and 43 m(2)/g for the Al(OH)(3)/FeAl(2) nanorods. The distribution of an FeAl(2) intermetallide over the surface of the AlOOH nanostructures led to an increase in arsenic adsorption of 25% for the AlOOH/FeAl(2) nanosheets and of 34% for the AlOOH/Fe(2)O(3)/FeAl(2) nanoplates and Al(OH)(3)/FeAl(2) nanorods. The adsorption isotherms matched most preciously to the Freundlich model. This fact indicated the energy heterogeneity of the adsorbent surface and multilayer adsorption. The nanostructures studied can be used to purify water contaminated with arsenic.