The adsorption behavior and mechanism of antimony in water by jarosite ball milling mixed with nano zero-valent iron

In this study, the functional material (BMJR-nZVI) of jarosite (JR) mixed with nano-zero-valent iron (nZVI) was prepared by mixed ball milling. The surface morphology, elemental composition, specific surface area and functional groups of adsorbed materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier infrared light (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), specific surface area analyzer (BET) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The influence of different mixing ratio, ball milling time and other process conditions on the antimony removal performance of BMJR-nZVI was studied, and the treatment conditions were optimized. Effects of combination method, milling ratio and milling time on the adsorption properties of BMJR-nZVI were investigated by single factor test. The results showed that the adsorbent had the best adsorption properties for Sb under the conditions of JR: nZVI 2:1 and milling time of 2 h. In antimony containing solution with pH 6 and initial concentration of 20 mg·L−1, the removal rate of Sb(III) and Sb(V) can reach up to 60.92 % and 99.82 % respectively, and BMJR-nZVI material is magnetic and can be recycled well. Main mechanism of adsorption, complexation and co-precipitation of antimony by BMJR-nZVI was confirmed.