Arsenic adsorption on lignocellulosic substrate loaded with ferric ion

We loaded a lignocellulosic substrate extracted from wheat bran with ferric ions. This new low-cost adsorbent was prepared for the adsorption and removal of arsenate and arsenite ions from aqueous systems. The loading process of Fe in this biomaterial was done by hydrolization of a ferric salt while an alkaline solution was added dropwise. The new material obtained has a high sensivity to arsenite and arsenate species. Here, we investigated the effect of contact time, pH, and Fe content on the adsorption of both arsenic ions on the new material. This adsorption was found to be highly pH-dependent, which can be explained on the basis of electrostatic interactions between ionic species in solution and the ≡FeOH surface groups. The maximum adsorption capacity of arsenite and arsenate species vary linearly with the amount of Fe loaded on the lignocellulosic substrate.