Adsorption of humic acid fractions with different molecular weight by magnetic polyacrylic anion exchange resin

Anion exchange resin has been shown to be efficient for adsorption of humic acid (HA). However, the mechanism of the effect(s) of the molecular weight (MW) of HA on the adsorption by anion exchange resin needs to be further explored. The objective of this work was to investigated the effect(s) of HA MW on their adsorption and desorption behavior by interacting with anion exchange resin. HA fractions with different MW were obtained by ultrafiltration and characterized. For adsorption kinetic study, the magnetic polyacrylic anion exchange resin (NDMP) was shaken with each HA fraction. The amounts of HA in the solutions at different sampling times were obtained by measurement of the total organic carbon. For isotherm study, batch experiments were performed to obtain the isotherms of each HA fractions. The effects of pH value and the regeneration efficiency for HA fractions with different MW were all investigated. The characterization reveals that aromaticity of HA increases as the MW rises, while the negative charge follows the order: HA3 (2,500-1,000 Da) > HA4 (> 10,000 Da) > HA2 (1,000-2,500 Da) > HA1 (< 1,000 Da). The adsorption amount of HA increases as the negative surface charge rises. Thus, HA3 has the largest adsorption amount by NDMP resin among HA fractions, while the adsorption amount of HA1 is the smallest. HA2 adsorption could be modeled by Freundlich equation, suggesting the interaction between HA2 and NDMP is a heterogeneous process. However, the adsorption isotherms of HA3 and HA4 were both better described by Langmuir equation than Freundlich equation. In addition, the resin fouling follows the order: HA2 > HA1 > HA4 > HA3. The aromaticity of HA freactions increases as MW rises. HA fractions with 1,000 -aEuro parts per thousand 2,500 Da have the largest surface negative charge, while the fractions with MW lower than 1,000 Da are almost electroneutral. The adsorptions of HA fractions onto NDMP suggest there is little effect of size exclusion on adsorption, and the adsorption behavior mainly depends on the negative charge of HAs.