Abstract
This paper describes the adsorption of heavy metals Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn by a tochilinite‐like material composed of alternating layers of Fe1−xS and Fe(OH)2. The layers are thin, being of atomic dimension. The material was produced by chemical precipitation together with some magnetite, Fe3O4, which renders the material magnetic. The results were analyzed with a simple chemisorption model which contained two parameters g(=mass of the heavy metal adsorbed/mass of adsorbent added) and C, a kinetic term with dimensions, l.mg−1.h−1., h is the time elapsed in hours. The fitting procedure works well with values of g>1, in some cases. However, according to the simple theory g and C should be constant independent of MA, the mass of adsorbent added: the constancy predicted was not observed. From the variation of g and C with MA the conclusion was that for a more complete understanding of the adsorption process, in addition to chemisorption adsorption‐desorption processes must be included.
We wish to acknowledge the help of Mr. Harry Childs, sadly, now deceased, who funded much of this work and who financially supported RGL. We also wish to acknowledge useful conversations with Dr. G.J. Daniell (University of Southampton) on the statistical methods used in this work and S.J.P. Watson for discussions on the subject of chemisorption.
Notes
We wish to acknowledge the help of Mr. Harry Childs, sadly, now deceased, who funded much of this work and who financially supported RGL. We also wish to acknowledge useful conversations with Dr. G.J. Daniell (University of Southampton) on the statistical methods used in this work and S.J.P. Watson for discussions on the subject of chemisorption.