Shuaiwen Zou1, Yuming Zheng1, Soh Fong Lim2, Yu-Ting Wei3, and J. Paul Chen4. (1) Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 10 kent ridge, Singapore, Singapore, (2) Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, National University of Singapore (NUS), 1 Engineering Dr 2, E2-05-05, Singapore, 117576, Singapore, (3) Division of Environmental Science & Engineering, National University of Singapore, Block E2, #05-05, 5 Engineering Drive 2, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore, (4) Environmental Science and Engineering, Natioanl University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
A zirconia-loaded PVDF composited membrane was developed in this study for removal of arsenic from aqueous solutions. The XRD analysis shows that the Zr(IV) is successfully encapsulated in the membrane. The SEM study illustrates that the higher Zr(IV) loading results in higher surface pore size and porosity of the membranes. The optimal pH range of adsorption is from 3.0 to 8.0. The maximum adsorption capacity can be achieved as high as 21.5 mg/g. The complete adsorption can be achieved in 30 h. The membrane filtration experiment shows that it effectively removes arsenic from synthesized waste stream. No leaching of Zr(IV) from the membrane is observed. The FT-IR and XPS studies show that the adsorption mechanism is a ligand-exchange process between As(V) ions and the hydroxyl ions present on the surface of Zr(IV)-membrane.