Enhanced removal of vanadium(V) from acidic streams using binary oxide systems of TiO2-ZrO2 and TiO2-ZnO type

Abstract It is well known that removal of vanadium ions from the natural environment has become a great challenge in recent years. Due to this fact, the present study concerns the application of binary oxides such as TiO2-ZrO2 (molar ratio 9:1) and TiO2-ZnO (molar ratio 7:3) synthesized by the sol–gel method with calcination at 873 K (TZ1 sample) or by the hydrothermal method at 433 K (TZ2 and T7Zn3 samples), respectively. The fabricated adsorbents were subjected to the detailed physico-chemical analysis including: dispersive properties, morphology, crystalline and textural properties as well as chemical composition. The vanadium(V) ions adsorption on the binary oxides was optimized by the experimental conditions such as pH (2–10), adsorbent dose (0.01–0.1 g), vanadium concentration (10–500 mg/L), agitation time (1 min–24 h) and temperature (293–333 K). The pseudo-first-order (PFO), pseudo-second-order (PSO) and intraparticle diffusion (IPD) kinetic models as well as the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Raduskievich isotherm models were applied for the description of V(V) adsorption. The adsorption capacities were found to be 129.3 mg/g for TZ1, 170.8 mg/g for TZ2 and to 195.9 mg/g for T7Zn3. The endothermic and spontaneous character of V(V) adsorption on the binary oxides was confirmed by the values of thermodynamic parameters. The best fitting of kinetic experimental data to the pseudo-second-order model was obtained. The maximum desorption yield (%D) was achieved using the 1 mol/L NaOH solution (97.96%-T7Zn3, 75.81%-TZ2, 62.88%-TZ1). Applicability of the inorganic oxides in V(V) and Fe(III) removal from spent catalyst leaching solutions was proved.