Application of orange peel for adsorption separation of molybdenum(VI) from Re-containing industrial effluent

The removal of molybdenum(VI) from an aquatic environment was investigated using Zr(IV)-, La(III)-, Ce(III)- and Fe(III)-loaded orange peel, respectively. Mo(VI) adsorption was found to be favored over the whole hydrochloric acid concentration (1.0 mmol.m (3)- 3 kmol.m (3)) while Pb(II), Fe(III), Zn(II), Mn(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) removal took place at pH values ranging from 1 to 6. The four gels all exhibited selectivity only for Mo(VI) evidenced by the high value of separation factor of molybdenum and rhenium (beta(Mo/Re) = 62.78 similar to 10(6)). The adsorption isotherm of Mo(VI) from aqueous solution using the four gels was carried out. Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models were applied to describe the adsorption of Mo(VI) onto the gels. In addition, the adsorption mechanism of Mo(VI) as a multispecies onto the Zr(IV) loaded gel was studied. Its excellent adsorption characteristics for Mo(VI) from Re-containing industrial effluent were confirmed by the test of adsorbent reutilization. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.