An XPS study for mechanisms of arsenate adsorption onto a magnetite-doped activated carbon fiber.

The surface and bulk structures of a newly developed carbon-based iron-containing adsorbent for As(V) adsorption were investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electronic microscopy (FESEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XRD patterns of the adsorbents indicated that the modified activated carbon fiber (MACF) was a simple mixture of the raw activated carbon fiber (RACF) and magnetite. After modification, a porous film was formed on the surface of the MACF with nano-sized magnetite on it. The As(V) uptake on the MACF was highly pH dependent and was facilitated in acidic solutions. XPS studies demonstrated that the surface oxygen-containing functional groups were involved in the adsorption and that magnetite played a key role in As(V) uptake. The dominance of HAsO(4)(2-) in surface complexes and the pH effect on As(V) uptake demonstrated that the monoprotonated bidentate complexes were dominant on the surface of the MACF. No reduction of As(V) was observed on the surface of the ACFs. 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.