Hisato Tominaga

Selective adsorption behavior of phosphate onto aluminum hydroxide gel.

The specific surface area and X-ray diffraction patterns for an aluminum hydroxide gel (AHG) calcined at 300-1150 degrees C, the number of surface hydroxyl groups in the AHG, and the adsorption isotherms of phosphate on AHG were measured in order to develop a phosphate recovery agent. AHG was transformed into gamma- and alpha-alumina by the calcinations treatment. The amount of phosphate adsorbed onto AHG increases at calcining temperatures of 300-700 degrees C and decreases above a calcining temperature of 800 degrees C. It was found that AHG selectively adsorbs phosphate ions, but not other anions, and shows the highest adsorption capacity at pH 4-6. Further, the alkali resistance of AHG increased with calcination, and more than 80% of the phosphate adsorbed with an NaOH aqueous solution underwent desorption. The addition of colloidal alumina and colloidal silica resulted in the formation of granules of 500-840 microm size. The amount of phosphate adsorbed onto AHG after granulation was similar to that before granulation. Thus, the phosphate absorption capacity of AHG did not decrease after granulation suggesting that AHG can be used as a phosphate adsorbent.

Recovery of molybdenum from fly ash by gibbsite

The effectiveness of gibbsite (GB), an amorphous aluminum oxide, for the recovery of Mo(VI) from eluates of fly ash of two coal-fired thermal power stations and of roof tile waste was investigated. Upon the qualitative analysis of an eluate of fly ash, 16 elements were detected. Greater amounts of these elements were eluted under acidic conditions (pH 2) than from the neutral or basic eluate of fly ash. GB was used for the adsorption of Mo(VI). Equilibrium adsorption was reached within 1 min. Optimal solution acidity for the adsorption of Mo(VI) onto GB400 (calcined at 400°C) was pH 2. The main adsorption mechanism was ion exchange with a number of hydroxyl groups of GB400. For repeated ad- and desorption of Mo(VI), GB400 could be used at least four times and the recovery percentage of Mo(VI) with sodium hydroxide solution as eluent surpassed 90%. Our results showed that GB400 was very effective for the recovery of Mo(VI) from fly ash.

Granulation of gibbsite with inorganic binder and its ability to adsorb Mo(VI) from aqueous solution

In this study, we prepared a new adsorbent and evaluated its ability to adsorb Mo(VI). Gibbsite was granulated with colloidal alumina or colloidal silica. The amount of Mo(VI) adsorbed onto granular gibbsite with a binder, effect of contact time and pH on the adsorption of Mo(VI), and column experiments were investigated. The amount of Mo(VI) adsorbed was greater in the order of ST12 (colloidal silica, 12%) < AS10 (colloidal alumina, 10%) < GB400 (calcined gibbsite at 400°C). Adsorption isotherms data were fitted to the Freundlich equation (correlation coefficient: 0.941–0.978), suggesting monomolecular adsorption on a heterogeneous surface. The amount of Mo(VI) adsorbed onto granular gibbsite with a binder was correlated with the amount of hydroxyl groups rather than the specific surface area. The adsorption rate data of Mo(VI) were fitted to the pseudo-second-order equation, which indicated that the rate limiting step may be chemisorption. Recovery of Mo(VI) using AS10 packed in a column was 95.6%. After five adsorption and desorption steps, adsorption and desorption ability of Mo(VI) using AS10 was unchanged. These results suggest that AS10 packed in a column could be useful for the recovery of Mo(VI).