Highly selective and efficient removal of arsenic(V), chromium(VI) and selenium(VI) oxyanions by layered double hydroxide intercalated with zwitterionic glycine.

In this study, a new strategy for highly selective and extremely efficient removal of toxic oxyanions (Cr(VI), Se(VI), and As(V)) from aqueous solutions using zwitterionic glycine intercalated layered double hydroxide (Gly-LDH) was reported. Hence, to investigate the effect of zwitterionic glycine on the adsorption capacity, selectivity factor and adsorption mechanism of LDHs, two NiAl LDHs intercalated with different inter-layer anions, including NO3- and glycine, were synthesized. The obtained results show that the adsorption capacity and selectivity factor of oxyanions through ion exchange mechanism in NO3-LDH is lower than Gly-LDH. Gly-LDH displayed a selectivity order of Se(VI)<Cr(VI)<<<As(V) for the oxyanions. The enormous adsorption capacity of 731.6mgg-1 for As(V) and very high distribution coefficients (Kd) of 5.98×107mLg-1, using a V/m ratio of 2000mLg-1, were observed, which are among the highest values reported for As(V) adsorbents. The adsorption kinetic curves for As(V) fitted well with the pseudo-second order model, suggesting a chemical adsorption mechanism via As(V)NH3+ bonding. For the As(V) (at 40mgL-1 concentration), the adsorption is exceptionally rapid, showing a 93.5% removal within 30min, 98.0% removal within 40min, and ∼100% removal within 70min.