Tian Lan Pinfang Li Xiangling Li Jingting Guo Qian Huang JianJian Geng Qingjie Zhao Wei Yang Shiwen Guo
ABSTRACT
In this study, we synthesised metakaolin-based mesoporous geopolymer adsorbent and investigated the effect of alkaline activator modulus (molar ratios of SiO2/Na2O) on Pb2+ adsorption. The geopolymer prepared using 1.2 M alkaline activator performs excellent Pb2+ removal with a maximum adsorption capacity of 172.71 mg g−1. The pseudo-second-order model fit the adsorption kinetics satisfactorily, indicating that the adsorption process is dominated by chemical adsorption. The adsorption data appropriately fit the Langmuir isotherm model. The contributions of adsorption methods corresponding to the total quantity adsorbed declined in the following order: EDTA extraction (formation of Pb aluminium oxide and Pb-containing amorphous materials) > residual fraction (Pb stabilisation in the tetrahedral aluminosilicate network) > ion exchange. Overall, the alkaline activator modulus significantly influenced the Pb2+ adsorption characteristics of the geopolymer adsorbent.
KEYWORDS
Metakaolin; geopolymerisation; adsorption performance; alkaline activator; Pb2+