This research paper investigated a novel absorbent of calcium aluminate-rich cementitious materials (Friedel's salt adsorbent, FA) for aqueous hexavalent chromium (VI) removal. The adsorption kinetics showed that the maximum adsorption capacities of FA were 3.36, 14.66, and 26.17 mg/g when the initial Cr(VI) concentration was 10, 50, and 100 mg/L, respectively. The adsorption fitted with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, suggesting the important roles of intercalation in the adsorption process with increasing Cr(VI) concentrations. This Friedel's salt adsorbent is suggested as an adaptive and effective adsorbent for Cr(VI) removal in contaminated groundwater.
Keywords: Friedel's salt adsorbent; column test; dissolution–precipitation equilibrium; hexavalent chromium; intercalation.