Abstract
The present study has been carried out for potential use of a raw clay from Gabes district (southern Tunisia) in wastewater treatment. A representative clay sample was collected from the outcropping feature of the Aidoudi area to the west of Gabes city; it followed a simple treatment to enhance its physicochemical properties. Adsorption experiments were performed by using a simple batch technique in single- and multi-element solution (Pb2+, Cd2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+). The obtained results were fitted to different adsorption models, including extended and modified Langmuir, extended Freundlich and modified Redlich–Peterson. Our results indicated that the collected clay sample is mainly a smectite with high amounts of silica, alumina and iron. Adsorptive removal of single elements revealed encouraging efficiencies for most of the studied metals, reaching nearly 100%. Our results also indicated that lead removal reached 26.78 mg/g and 45.94 mg/g for natural and activated clay samples, respectively. Competitive adsorption showed strong dependence on the initial concentration and the metal properties, with preferential removal of lead that reached 41.71 mg/g in binary systems. In most of the mixed systems, metal removal substantially decreased in the presence of competing ions. It showed preferential removal of lead over other metals, regardless of the studied mixture. Further, the use of smectitic clay from southern Tunisia showed a good potential for metal ions removal in single and multi-element systems from aqueous solutions. Thus, it could be turned out to a viable material for the treatment of metal loaded waters.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Afroze S, Sen TK (2018) A review on heavy metal ions and dye adsorption from water by agricultural solid waste adsorbents. Water Air Soil Pollut 229:225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-018-3869-z
Al-Degs YS, El-Barghouthi MI, Issa AA, Khraisheh MA, Walker GM (2006) Sorption of Zn(II), Pb(II), and Co(II) using natural sorbents: equilibrium and kinetic studies. Water Res 40:2645–2658. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2006.05.018
Alqadami AA, Naushad M, Abdalla MA, Ahamad T, ALOthman ZA, Alshehri SM, Ghfar AA, (2017) Efficient removal of toxic metal ions from wastewater using a recyclable nanocomposite: a study of adsorption parameters and interaction mechanism. J Clean Prod 156:426–436. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2017.04.085
Antoniadis V, Tsadilas CD (2007) Sorption of cadmium, nickel, and zinc in mono- and multimetal systems. Appl Geochem 22:2375–2380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2007.06.001
Ayoub GM, Mehawej M (2007) Adsorption of arsenate on untreated dolomite powder. J Hazard Mater 148:259–266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.02.011
Depci T, Kul AR, Önal Y (2012) Competitive adsorption of lead and zinc from aqueous solution on activated carbon prepared from Van apple pulp: study in single- and multi-solute systems. Chem Eng J. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2012.06.077
Futalan CM, Kan C-C, Dalida ML, Hsien KJ, Pascua C, Wan M (2011) Comparative and competitive adsorption of copper, lead, and nickel using chitosan immobilized on bentonite. Carbohydr Polym 83:528–536. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2010.08.013
Ghorbel M, Munoz M, Solmon F (2014) Health hazard prospecting by modeling wind transfer of metal-bearing dust from mining waste dumps: application to Jebel Ressas Pb–Zn–Cd abandoned mining site (Tunisia). Environ Geochem Health 36:935–951. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-014-9610-y
Ghrab S, Boujelbene N, Medhioub M, Jamoussi F (2014) Chromium and nickel removal from industrial wastewater using Tunisian clay. Desalin Water Treat 52:2253–2260. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2013.805165
Hashim MA, Mukhopadhyay S, Narayan J, Sengupta B (2011) Remediation technologies for heavy metal contaminated groundwater. J Environ Manag 92:2355–2388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2011.06.009
Karabulut S, Karabakan A, Denizli A, Yürüm Y (2000) Batch removal of copper(II) and zinc(II) from aqueous solutions with low-rank Turkish coals. Sep Purif Technol 18:177–184. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1383-5866(99)00067-2
Khalfa L, Bagane M (2011) Cadmium removal from aqueous solution by a tunisian smectitic natural and activated clay: thermodynamic study. J Encapsul Adsorpt Sci 01:65–71. https://doi.org/10.4236/jeas.2011.14009
Khalfa L, Bagane M, Cervera ML, Najjar S (2016) Competitive adsorption of heavy metals onto natural and activated clay: equilibrium, kinetics and modeling. Int J Chem Mol Eng 10:546–552
Khalfa L, Cervera ML, Souissi-Najjar S, Bagane M (2017) Removal of Fe(III) from synthetic wastewater into raw and modified clay: experiments and models fitting. Sep Sci Technol 00:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/01496395.2017.1323923
Kinraide TB, Yermiyahu U (2007) A scale of metal ion binding strengths correlating with ionic charge, Pauling electronegativity, toxicity, and other physiological effects. J Inorg Biochem 101:1201–1213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2007.06.003
Liu Z, Zhou L, Wei P, Zeng K, Wen C, Lan H (2008) Competitive adsorption of heavy metal ions on peat. J China Univ Min Technol 18:255–260. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1006-1266(08)60054-1
Mahamadi C, Nharingo T (2010) Competitive adsorption of Pb2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+ ions onto Eichhornia crassipes in binary and ternary systems. Bioresour Technol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2009.08.097
Minceva M, Fajgar R, Markovska L, Meshko V (2008) Comparative study of Zn2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+ removal from water solution using natural clinoptilolitic zeolite and commercial granulated activated carbon. Equilibrium of adsorption. Sep Sci Technol. https://doi.org/10.1080/01496390801941174
Naiya TK, Bhattacharya AK, Das SK (2009) Adsorption of Cd(II) and Pb(II) from aqueous solutions on activated alumina. J Colloid Interface Sci. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2009.01.003
Padilla-Ortega E, Leyva-Ramos R, Mendoza-Barron J (2014) Role of electrostatic interactions in the adsorption of cadmium(II) from aqueous solution onto vermiculite. Appl Clay Sci 88–89:10–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2013.12.012
Pagnanelli F, Esposito A, Toro L, Vegliò F (2003) Metal speciation and pH effect on Pb, Cu, Zn and Cd biosorption onto Sphaerotilus natans: Langmuir-type empirical model. Water Res 37:627–633. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(02)00358-5
Papageorgiou SK, Katsaros FK, Kouvelos EP, Kanellopoulos NK (2009) Prediction of binary adsorption isotherms of Cu2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+ on calcium alginate beads from single adsorption data. J Hazard Mater 162:1347–1354. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JHAZMAT.2008.06.022
Perassi I, Borgnino L (2014) Adsorption and surface precipitation of phosphate onto CaCO3–montmorillonite: effect of pH, ionic strength and competition with humic acid. Geoderma 232:600–608. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2014.06.017
Qin F, Wen B, Shan XQ, Xie YN, Liu T, Zhang SZ, Khan SU (2006) Mechanisms of competitive adsorption of Pb, Cu, and Cd on peat. Environ Pollut. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2005.12.036
Salameh Y, Albadarin AB, Allen S, Walker GM, Ahmad MNM (2015) Arsenic(III, V) adsorption onto charred dolomite: Charring optimization and batch studies. Chem Eng J 259:663–671. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2014.08.038
Sdiri A (2018) Physicochemical characterization of natural dolomite for efficient removal of lead and cadmium in aqueous systems. Environ Prog Sustain Energy 37:2034–2041. https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.12893
Sdiri A, Higashi T, Hatta T, Jamoussi F, Tase N (2011) Evaluating the adsorptive capacity of montmorillonitic and calcareous clays on the removal of several heavy metals in aqueous systems. Chem Eng J 172:37–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2011.05.015
Sdiri A, Higashi T, Chaabouni R, Jamoussi F (2012a) Competitive removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions by montmorillonitic and calcareous clays. Water Air Soil Pollut 223:1191–1204. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-011-0937-z
Sdiri A, Higashi T, Jamoussi F, Bouaziz S (2012b) Effects of impurities on the removal of heavy metals by natural limestones in aqueous systems. J Environ Manag 93:171–179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2011.08.002
Srivastava VC, Mall ID, Mishra IM (2006) Equilibrium modelling of single and binary adsorption of cadmium and nickel onto bagasse fly ash. Chem Eng J 117:79–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2005.11.021
Srivastava VC, Mall ID, Mishra IM (2009) Competitive adsorption of cadmium(II) and nickel(II) metal ions from aqueous solution onto rice husk ash. Chem Eng Process Process Intensif. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cep.2008.05.001
Usman ARA (2008) The relative adsorption selectivities of Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd and Ni by soils developed on shale in New Valley, Egypt. Geoderma 144:334–343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2007.12.004
Vidal M, Santos MJ, Abrão T, Rodríguez J, Rigol A (2009) Modeling competitive metal sorption in a mineral soil. Geoderma 149:189–198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2008.11.040
Walker GM, Hansen L, Hanna J-A, Allen SJ (2003) Kinetics of a reactive dye adsorption onto dolomitic sorbents. Water Res 37:2081–2089. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(02)00540-7
Xue Y, Hou H, Zhu S (2009) Competitive adsorption of copper(II), cadmium(II), lead(II) and zinc(II) onto basic oxygen furnace slag. J Hazard Mater. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.05.072
Acknowledgements
The manuscript was written through contributions of all authors. We applied the “sequence-determines-credit” (SDC) approach for the sequence of authors based on their declining contribution. Conceptualization, A.S. and L.K.; Methodology, M.L.C. and M.B.; Experiments: L.K. and M.L.C.; Interpretation, all authors; Writing original draft, review and revision; A.S. and L.K. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the paper. Dr Kalfa gratefully acknowledge the help of the national engineering school, University of Gabes, Tunisia, and the financial support of the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad-FEDER, Project CTQ2012-38635 and CTQ_2014-52841 and Generalitat Valenciana PROMETEO- II-2014-077, Spain.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Editorial responsibility: M.Abbaspour.
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Khalfa, L., Sdiri, A., Bagane, M. et al. Multi-element modeling of heavy metals competitive removal from aqueous solution by raw and activated clay from the Aleg formation (Southern Tunisia). Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 17, 2123–2140 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-019-02614-x
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-019-02614-x