Competitive Adsorption of Cd(II), Cr(VI), and Pb(II) onto Nanomaghemite: A Spectroscopic and Modeling Approach

A combined modeling and spectroscopic approach is used to describe Cd(II), Cr(VI), and Pb(II) adsorption onto nanomaghemite and nanomaghemite coated quartz. A pseudo-second order kinetic model fitted the adsorption data well. The sorption capacity of nanomaghemite was evaluated using a Langmuir isotherm model, and a diffuse double layer surface complexation model (DLM) was developed to describe metal adsorption. Adsorption mechanisms were assessed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Pb(II) adsorption occurs mainly via formation of inner-sphere complexes, whereas Cr(VI) likely adsorbs mainly as outer-sphere complexes and Cd(II) as a mixture of inner- and outer-sphere complexes. The simple DLM describes well the pH-dependence of single adsorption edges. However, it fails to adequately capture metal adsorption behavior over broad ranges of ionic strength or metal-loading on the sorbents. For systems with equimolar concentrations of Pb(II), Cd(II), and Cr(VI). Pb(II) adso...