Removal of arsenic and strontium from aqueous solution using ironoxide coated zeolitized tuff

86 Pages·2015·2.16 MB·English

by  Nataliya V. Kasimtseva

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
12-2010
RReemmoovvaall ooff aarrsseenniicc aanndd ssttrroonnttiiuumm ffrroomm aaqquueeoouuss ssoolluuttiioonn uussiinngg
iirroonnooxxiiddee ccooaatteedd zzeeoolliittiizzeedd ttuuffff
Nataliya V. Kasimtseva
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations
Part of the Fresh Water Studies Commons, Natural Resource Economics Commons, and the Water
Resource Management Commons
RReeppoossiittoorryy CCiittaattiioonn
Kasimtseva, Nataliya V., "Removal of arsenic and strontium from aqueous solution using ironoxide coated
zeolitized tuff" (2010). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 735.
http://dx.doi.org/10.34917/2016652
This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV
with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the
copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from
the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/
or on the work itself.

This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones by
an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact
[email protected].
REMOVAL OF ARSENIC AND STRONTIUM FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION
USING IRON OXIDE COATED ZEOLITIZED TUFF

by
Nataliya V. Kasimsteva
Bachelor of Linguistics,
International Market Institute, Samara, Russia
2006

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the

Master of Science Degree in Water Resources Management
Department of Water Resources Management
College of Science

Graduate College
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
December 2010
Copyright by Nataliya V. Kasimtseva 2011
All Rights Reserved
THE GRADUATE COLLEGE

We recommend the thesis prepared under our supervision by

Nataliya V. Kasimtseva

entitled

Removal of Arsenic and Strontium from Aqueous Solution Using Iron-
oxide Coated Zeolitized Tuff

be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

Master of Science in Water Resource Management

Charalambos Papelis, Committee Chair

Michael Nicholl, Committee Member

Vernon Hodge, Committee Member

Jacimaria Batista, Graduate Faculty Representative

Ronald Smith, Ph. D., Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies
and Dean of the Graduate College

December 2010

ii
ABSTRACT
Removal of Arsenic and Strontium from Aqueous Solution Using Iron-Oxide
Coated Zeolitized Tuff

by

Nataliya V. Kasimtseva

Dr. Charalambos Papelis, Examination Committee Chair
Water Resources Management Program
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
As world population grows so does the demand for safe drinking water.
Meanwhile water resources become increasingly scarce and quality of natural water
decreases due to a combination of natural and anthropogenic factors. Industry and
agriculture have become a premiere source of hazardous constituents, along with natural
processes such as rock weathering and volcanic eruptions. Our ability to remove
hazardous constituents from water depends on chosen technology and nature of
contaminant. Sorption and ion-exchange have been widely applied for water
purification. Natural zeolites have been widely applied in water and waste water
treatment as ion-exchangers for removal of harmful contaminants from water. Most
technologies that use natural zeolites are based on the unique cation-exchange behavior
of zeolites, thus making this sorbent limited to cation removal. Coating iron-oxide onto
particles with natural affinity for cations (such as zeolites) and high surface area provides
for an effective sorption media with the application for both cationic and anionic
contaminants from water.
It was proposed that modification of natural zeolitized tuff according to
techniques, previously tested on sand, would enhance anion removal capacity of the
media and the coating would not adversely impact cation exchange capacity. Arsenic and
iii
strontium are commonly found in water supplies, and therefore are selected for this study
to represent oxyanions and cations, respectively, in water systems. Natural zeolitized tuff
was modified according to previously published techniques, and natural and modified
particles were characterized using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron
Microscopy (SEM) and cation-exchange capacity (CEC) was determined by ammonium
saturation method. Sorption behavior of Ar (V) and Sr (II) was examined batchwise as
a function of pH, ionic strength and the concentration of ion of interest. Residual
concentrations of As (V) and Sr (II) in the solution were determined by GFAA and ICP.
Sorption studies revealed that application of iron-coating increased As (V)
removal capacity of natural zeolitized tuff up to 100%, specifically in lower (1x10-6 M)
concentrations and acidic pH. Iron-coating did not results in significant changes in
cation-removal capacity as both natural and modified zeolitized tuffs showed similar
cation-removal capacity in identical experimental conditions.
iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
It is with sincere appreciation that I take this opportunity to acknowledge those
who have helped me during my journey. Without encouragement and support of my
family, friends and colleagues this accomplishment would not be possible.
There are many people who contributed to my learning during my graduate
studies. First, I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Charalambos Papelis, whose
guidance and support has been critical to my professional growth. I truly appreciate the
opportunity he has given me and the powerful effect that it had on my journey. I would
like to offer special thanks to Dr. Michael Nicholl, Dr. Jacimaria Batista and Dr. Vernon
Hodge for their wiliness to serve on my committee and for their priceless support during
my studies. I would also like to thank Dr. Michael Young and DRI faculty and stuff for
their effective support with administrative and budget matters.
I would also like to thank my colleagues Alan Williams and Racheal Johnsen for
their guidance and advice on the experimental design and analysis. Special thanks to my
dear colleague and friend Carolyn Link, whose enthusiasm, professionalism and
dedication have inspired me to become a good scientist.
Finally, I would like to express sincere gratitude to my family and friends. I owe a
special debt of gratitude to my mother for all the support she has provided me during my
studies and throughout life. I would specially like to thank my husband, Jonathan, whose
never-ending love, patience and support have become a foundation of my strength and
inspiration. I truly appreciate everything my family sacrificed to make it possible for me
to pursue my dreams. I dedicate this thesis to them in recognition of the completion of
one phase of my journey and in celebration of all that lies ahead.
v
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iii
ACKNOWLEDEMENTS ................................................................................................... v
LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... viii
LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... ix
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................ 1
Constituents of Interest: Arsenic and Strontium ........................................................ 3
Objectives and Hypotheses ........................................................................................ 5
Thesis Organization ................................................................................................... 6
CHAPTER 2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ..................................................... 7
Metals and Metalloids in Water: Natural Occurrence and Impact on Water Quality 7
Survey of Methods to Remove Metallic Ions from Water ......................................... 7
Zeolites ..................................................................................................................... 10
Minerology and Chemical Composition .................................................................. 11
Properties ................................................................................................................. 11
Formation and Occurrence ....................................................................................... 12
Use of Zeolites in Water Purification ...................................................................... 12
Improvement of Adsorbents through Addition of an Iron-Oxide Coating .............. 13
Previous Studies on Coating of Zeolites .................................................................. 14
Fundamentals of Adsorption .................................................................................... 16
CHAPTER 3 MATERIALS AND METHODS ........................................................ 19
Zeolitized Tuff Samples ........................................................................................... 19
Coating Methods ...................................................................................................... 21
Characterization Methods ........................................................................................ 22
Batch Experiments ................................................................................................... 25
CHAPTER 4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ......................................................... 31
Sample Characterization .......................................................................................... 31
Particle Morphology (SEM) .................................................................................... 31
Mineral Composition (XRD) ................................................................................... 35
Cation Exchange Capacity ....................................................................................... 36
Batch Testing ........................................................................................................... 37
Sorption Behavior of Sr (II) ..................................................................................... 38
Sorption Behavior of As (V) .................................................................................... 45
CHAPTER 5 SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS...... 57
APPENDIX 1 MINERAL COMPOSITION OF NATURAL AND MODIFIED
ZEOLITIZED TUFF ........................................................................... 60
vi
APPENDIX 2 SUMMARY OF SORPTION RESULTS ........................................... 64
REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 68
VITA ................................................................................................................................. 74
vii
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1 Summary of adsorbent characteristics. From Um and Papelis (2004).with
modifications................................................................................................... 20
Table 2 Summary of variables for parametric batch study. ......................................... 28
Table 3 Normalized all elements analysis of natural zeolitized tuff. ........................... 33
Table 4 Normalized all elements analysis of modified zeolitized tuff – I. .................. 33
Table 5 Normalized all elements analysis of modified zeolitized tuff - II. ................. 34
Table 6 Normalized all elements analysis of modified zeolitized tuff – III. ............... 34
Table 7 Semi-quantitative analysis of composition of natural and modified zeolitized
tuff, wt. %. ...................................................................................................... 35

viii