2023/09/02 by María de Lourdes Mendoza, Maria de Lourdes Mendoza, José A. Delgado +5 · 1 citation
Chemistry · Environmental Science · Nursing · #Adsorption #Arsenic contamination and mitigation #Catalysis #Chemical engineering #Chemistry #Environmental engineering #Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy #Mercury impact and mitigation studies #Mordenite #Nuclear chemistry #Organic chemistry #Selenium #Selenium in Biological Systems #Wastewater #Zeolite
paper · open access · doi:10.1080/01496395.2023.2250549
published in Separation Science and Technology 58(13), 2286-2297 (Taylor & Francis)
crossref issued 2023/09/02 · crossref published 2023/09/02 · crossref published-print 2023/09/02 · openalex publication_date 2023/09/02 · crossref published-online 2023/09/20 · crossref created 2023/09/20 · crossref deposited 2024/09/25 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · crossref indexed 2026/08/06 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06
Selenium is found in natural waters of developing countries. The present study refers to Se (IV) adsorption onto an Ecuadorian natural zeolite, activated at 225°C. Its physicochemical characterization included particle size analysis, XRD, SEM-EDX, and FTIR. After selenium adsorption, the FTIR spectra denoted the presence of moved bands and new peaks, probably corresponding to new metal bond vibrations. Batch experiments were carried out at 26°C, for 2 h, at adsorbate doses within 0.01–50 mg L−1, bringing about a removal percentage in the range of 57−90%. Eventually, Se (IV) adsorption was performed at a pH of 7.5, resembling realistic well-water matrix conditions. Zeolite accomplished a maximum Se adsorption capacity of 53 mg g−1 zeolite, corresponding to roughly 90% of Se removal. The results obtained upon constant flow mode were analyzed with various kinetic models, appearing Thomas and BDST models to fit better. The highest Se removal percentage on typical well waters leaves a Se value lower than the permissible levels. Thus, natural zeolites offer an economic and competitive alternative for Se (IV) removal, especially from groundwater and industrial wastewater in developing countries.