Based on the principle of self-assembly, graphene oxide, chitosan, and FeCl3·6H2O were mixed to prepare graphene oxide-chitosan coated iron-composite particles (Fe@ GOCS). Batch static experiments were carried out to investigate the kinetic and thermodynamic characteristics of As(Ⅲ) adsorption, and to identify the adsorption mechanism. Results showed that the iron on the GOCS was mainly in the form of α-FeO(OH). The As(Ⅲ) adsorption capacity increased with decreasing pH, and the highest adsorption capacity occurred at pH 3. After approximately 45 h, As(Ⅲ) adsorption reached equilibrium under the conditions of pH 3 and a temperature of 298.15, 308.15, and 318.15 K. The maximum adsorption capacity was 289.4 mg·g-1 for an optimal dosage of adsorbents of 1.0 g·L-1. After five times of repeated adsorption-desorption, the adsorption capacity increased slightly. The thermodynamic parameters showed that ΔGθ<0, ΔSθ > 0, and ΔHθ>0, thus indicating that As(Ⅲ) adsorption on Fe@GOCS was a spontaneous, endothermic, and entropy-increasing reaction, and that a higher temperature was more favorable for As(Ⅲ) adsorption. The pseudo-second-order model provided a good fit of the As(Ⅲ) adsorption kinetics for Fe@GOCS. Compared to the Langmuir isotherm, As(Ⅲ) adsorption experimental data fitted better to the Freundlich and Sips models. In combination with the characterization results, it was found that ion exchange and surface complexation were the main mechanisms of As(Ⅲ) removal from aqueous solution using Fe@GOCS.
Keywords: As(Ⅲ); adsorption; chitosan; graphene oxide; iron.