Separation Science and Technology, Vol.45, No.1, 105-115, 2010
Removal of Boron from Aqueous Solutions by Adsorption Using Fly Ash, Zeolite, and Demineralized Lignite
In the present study for the purpose of removal of boron from water by adsorption using adsorbents like fly ash, natural zeolite, and demineralized lignite was investigated. Boron in water was removed with fly ash, zeolite, and demineralized lignite with different capacities. Ninety-four percent boron was removed using fly ash. Batch experiments were conducted to test the removal capacity, to obtain adsorption isotherms, thermodynamic and kinetic parameters. Boron removal by all adsorbents was affected by pH of solution; maximum adsorption was achieved at pH 10. Adsorption of boron on fly ash was investigated by the Langmuir, Freundlich, and the Dubinin-Radushkevich models. Standard entropy and enthalpy changes of adsorption of boron on fly ash were, S0=-0.69kJ/mol K and H0=-215.34kJ/mol, respectively. The negative value of S0 indicated decreased randomness at the solid/solution interface during the adsorption boron on the fly ash sample. Negative values of H0 showed the exothermic nature of the process. The negative values of G0 implied that the adsorption of boron on fly ash samples was spontaneous. Adsorption of boron on fly ash occurred with a pseudo-second order kinetic model, and intraparticle diffusion of boron species had also some effect in adsorption kinetics.