Removal of aqueous-phase Pb(II), Cd(II), As(III), and As(V) by nanoscale zero-valent iron supported on exhausted coffee grounds.

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) is recognized as an excellent adsorbent for metallic contaminants. Nevertheless, NZVI itself tends to agglomerate, so that its performance deterioriates without supporting materials. The use of exhausted coffee grounds as a supporting material for NZVI is expected to resolve this problem and provide the social benefits of waste minimization and resource recycling. In this study, NZVI was supported on exhausted coffee grounds (NZVI-Coffee ground) to enhance its dispersion. The aims of this study were to characterize NZVI-Coffee ground with a focus on atomic dispersion, evaluate NZVI-Coffee ground as an adsorbent for typical metallic contaminants and arsenic, and assess the effects of solution chemistry on the adsorption process. In order to achieve these goals, characterization, adsorption kinetics, adsorption equilibrium, and the effects of pH and temperature on adsorption were studied. Pb(II), Cd(II), As(III), and As(V) were selected as target contaminants. The characterization study showed that atomic dispersion was enhanced four-fold by supporting NZVI on coffee grounds. The enhanced dispersion resulted in rapid kinetic characteristics and large adsorption capacity. The optimum pH for adsorption of Pb(II) and Cd(II) was 4-6, and that for As(III) and As(V) was 2-4. The pH effect can be explained by surface protonation/deprotonation and adsorbate speciation. Only the adsorption of Pb(II) was an exothermic process; those of other species were endothermic. In every tested case, the adsorption process was spontaneous. According to the results, NZVI-Coffee ground is an effective adsorbent for the removal of aqueous phase Pb(II), Cd(II), As(III), and As(V).