[Arsenic adsorption by magnetic adsorbent CuFe2O4].

By the fact that Cu(II) and Fe(III) have strong affinity toward inorganic arsenic, the present paper reported the preparation of the magnetic adsorbent CuFe2O4 for the removal of arsenic. This adsorbent was composed with Cu(II) and Fe(III) oxides and can be recovered by magnetic separation technique. The characterization and the arsenic adsorption properties of the magnetic adsorbent were also studied. The sorption capacity was related to the pH of arsenic containing solution and the adsorption was more efficient for removing arsenic from acid and neutral solutions. As(V) was found to be more strongly adsorbed than As(III) on the adsorbent, and its adsorption capacity was 10 mg/g at equilibrium concentration of 10 micrograms/L (pH 3.5-6.5). Arsenic adsorption was not influenced by the presence of chloride and phosphate, but slightly influenced by sulfate at 10-20 times concentration of arsenic. As(V) desorption was performed more efficiently than As(III) desorption using 0.1 mol/L NaOH, which was the result of the different adsorption mechanism for the two arsenic species on adsorbent.