Sorption behaviour of manganese-coated calcined-starfish and manganese-coated sand for Mn(II).

The objective of the present investigation was to explore the sorption behaviour of manganese-coated samples of calcined starfish (MCCSF) (i.e. the impregnation of calcined starfish with manganese) for the removal of low levels of an important heavy metal toxic ion, Mn(II), from aqueous solutions. The suitability of this solid was further compared with two different samples of manganese-coated sands (MCS): MCS4 and MCS9 impregnated at pH 4.0 and pH 9.0, respectively. These comparative studies were performed in both batch and column experiments. Batch data indicated that a fairly good stability of the coating was obtained for these three samples in the pH region 2.5 to 10.0. The removal efficiency of MCCSF was fairly good in comparison with the MCS4 and MCS9 samples. These last two samples possessed similar Mn(II) removal capacities. Moreover, a small dose of sodium hypochlorite further enhanced the uptake of Mn(II) by these solids. The sorbate concentration dependence data fitted reasonably well to the Freundlich adsorption isotherm. The column data indicated that MCCSF possessed a relatively higher adsorption capacity compared with the MCS4 and MCS9 samples. The breakthrough curves obtained were then used to evaluate the apparent removal capacity of these solids under the dynamic conditions using the Thomas equation. The SEM images obtained for these manganese-coated solids along with the virgin base materials, i.e. sand and calcined starfish, showed that manganese oxides occupied the surfaces or pores of the base materials and formed clusters on the base surface.