Adsorption performance and mechanism of perchloroethylene on a novel nano composite β-FeOOH-AC

Akaganeite-activated carbon (beta-FeOOH-AC) nano composite was prepared firstly and characterized. beta-FeOOH-AC was used in the removing perchloroethylene (PCE) from water. The adsorption performance and mechanism of PCE from water by beta-FeOOH-AC is investigated through batch experiments including kinetics, thermodynamics and isothermal adsorption models. The results show that the PCE removal achieves 97.83% when the initial PCE concentration is 100 mg/L and sorbent dosage is 8 g/L at temperature 298 K. The kinetic data prove a closer fit to the pseudo-second order model. The isotherm data can be fit with Langmuir and Freundlich isothermal adsorption models. Additionally, the thermodynamic analysis indicates PCE adsorption on beta-FeOOH-AC is a spontaneous, endothermic, single and multi-layer combined physical adsorption process, and beta-FeOOH-AC has a strong PCE adsorption affinity. The excellent adsorption performance and low cost of the beta-FeOOH-AC can be considered as one of the effective options to remove PCE from contaminated water. (c) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.