Physico-Chemical Properties of Granular Sorbents Based on Natural Bentonite Modified by Polyhydroxocations of Aluminum and Iron (III) by Co-Precipitation

The physicochemical and adsorption properties of granular sorbents based on natural bentonite and modified sorbents based on it have been studied. It was found that modification of natural bentonite with iron (III) polyhydroxocations (mod. 1_Fe_5 GA) and aluminum (III) (mod. 1_Al_5 GA) by the “co-precipitation” method leads to a change in their chemical composition, structure, and sorption properties. It is shown that modified sorbents based on natural bentonite are finely porous (nanostructured) objects with a predominance of pores measuring 1.5–8.0 nm, with a specific surface area of 55–65 m2/g. Modification of bentonite with iron (III) and aluminum compounds by the “co-precipitation” method also leads to an increase in the sorption capacity of the obtained sorbents with respect to bichromate and arsenate anions and nickel cations by 5-10 times compared with natural bentonite. The obtained sorption isotherms were classified as Langmuir type isotherms. Kinetic analysis showed that at the initial stage the sorption process is controlled by an external diffusion factor, i.e. refers to the diffusion of sorbent from solution into a liquid film on the surface of the sorbent. Then the sorption process begins to proceed in a mixed diffusion mode, when it limits both the external diffusion factor and the internal diffusion factor (the diffusion of the sorbent to the active centers through the system of pores and capillaries). To determine the contribution of the chemical stage to the rate of adsorption of bichromate and arsenate anions and nickel(II) cations with the studied granular sorbents, kinetic curves were processed using the equations of chemical kinetics (pseudo-second-order model). As a result, it was found that the adsorption of the studied anions by modified sorbents based on natural bentonite is best described by a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. It is shown that the use of natural bentonite for the development of technology for the production of granular sorbents based on it has an undeniable advantage, firstly, in terms of its chemical and structural properties, it is easily and effectively modified, and secondly, having astringent properties, granules are easily made on its basis, which turn into ceramics during high-temperature firing. The result is a granular sorbent with high physical and mechanical properties. Since bentonite is an environmentally friendly product, the technology of recycling spent sorbents is also greatly simplified.