Antimony Remediation Using Ferrate(VI)

Abstract

This research investigates a remediation technique for antimony involving the adsorption and co-precipitation of aqueous antimony by in-situ formed ferric hydroxide. Flocculation is initiated by the oxidation of iron(II) with potassium ferrate(VI), K₂FeO₄, along with oxidation of the more toxic Sb(III) to Sb(V). A 3/1 mole ratio of Fe(II)/Fe(VI) and a total Fe/Sb mole ratio of 300/1 was needed to achieve total antimony concentrations below the maximum contaminant levels for drinking water (6 μg/l).

Keywords:

• ferrate(VI)
• antimony
• remediation
• flocculation

Additional information

Funding

The authors thank the Consortium for Environmental Education and Technology Development (WERC) at New Mexico State University for financial support of B. Lorenz.