Effect of Anatase/Rutile TiO₂ Phase Composition on Arsenic Adsorption

Abstract

Nano TiO₂ particles with different phase composition were synthesised using sol-gel method. Two different solvent were used for gelation. Effect of gelation temperature and to time on anatase/rutile phase formation had been studied. Particles crystallinity, crystal size, surface area, pore size had been calculated by x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area) theory, and transmission electron microscopy analysis. How change in crystal size, surface area, pore size with respect to phase change also has been studied. Arsenate and arsenite removal by TiO₂ particles of different phase compositions had been investigated by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Some parameters such as the contact time and the pH of the solution, which could affect the magnitude of adsorption, were examined. Sorption data have been interpreted in terms of the Freundlich and Langmuir equations. [Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of the Journal of Dispersion Science and Technology to view the free supplemental file.]

Keywords:

• Adsorption
• anatase
• arsenic
• crystallinity
• nano TiO₂
• rutile
• surface area

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the University Grant Commission (UGC) for funding and fellowship.

Notes

FWHM = full width of half maxima.