Synthesis of Fe2O3-coated and HCl-treated bauxite ore waste for the adsorption of arsenic (III) from aqueous solution: Isotherm and kinetic models

The present work has focused on the removal of arsenic (III) using two effective adsorbents such as red mud treated with HCl and coated with Fe₂O₃. Adsorption of As (III) was performed by the function of pH, adsorbent dose, contact time, initial ion concentration, and the appropriate conditions for adsorption were determined. The characterization studies of the adsorbent were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, Brauner–Emmett–Teller, scanning electron microscope, and FTIR spectroscopy. The result of the studies shows that the adsorbent is suitable for the effective removal of As (III) ions. Batch adsorption process showed that the maximum adsorption occurred at Fe₂O₃-coated red mud. The equilibrium data were well fitted to the nonlinear Langmuir isotherm model and the maximum adsorption capacity (q_m) of Fe₂O₃-coated red mud was found to be 21.85?mg?g^?1 which indicates that Fe₂O₃-coated red mud had more adsorption capacity. In the Freundlich isotherm, the experimentally obtained n value of Fe₂O₃-coated red mud was 2.393 which indicates the favorable adsorption of As (III) on the adsorbent. Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm confirms that the adsorption process is physical in nature. Furthermore, the adsorption kinetic studies followed the pseudo-first-order model. All the results concluded that Fe₂O₃-coated red mud can be considered as a cost-effective and potential adsorbent for As (III) removal.