Enhanced Antimony Removal by Yeast Powder Modified with KMnO4

Antimony (Sb) is one of the priority pollutants due to its high toxicity. In this study, we prepared a Sb sorbent using yeast powder modified with potassium permanganate (KMnO4). The effects of solution pH, amount of sorbent and contact time on antimonate (Sb(V)) removal were investigated. We also characterized the Sb(V) adsorption kinetics and isotherm on the surface of yeast powder modified by 0.5 mol L-1 KMnO4 (0.5 Mn-Y). The Sb(V) adsorption on the 0.5 Mn-Y could be well described with pseudo second-order kinetic model and Langmuir model, with the maximum adsorption capacity of 12.31 mg g(-1). Through scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses, it was shown that Sb(V) could be adsorbed to 0.5 Mn-Y through 1) complexation with MnOx and 2) reduction to Sb(III) and binding to functional groups.