Fluoride adsorption capacity of composites based on chitosanzeolite-algae [Evaluación de la capacidad de adsorción de fluoruro en compositos a base de quitosano-zeolita-alga marina]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the adsorption capacity of fluoride in batch system at different pH on synthesized composites based in chitosan and low cost materials such as zeolite and seaweed. Both composites were compared: chitosan-zeolite (ch-z), chitosan-algae (ch-a). Adsorption experiments were individually conducted with these materials (chitosan, zeolite, and seaweed). The data of adsorption isotherms were a better fit to the Freundlich model. The adsorption capacity of these materials and composite is affected by the pH of the solution. At pH 5 the ch-z composite had 1.2 time higher fluoride adsorption than composite ch-a, which showed a higher capacity for fluoride removal to a pH 7. The characterization of these materials was performed with the infrared spectroscopy techniques with Transported Fourier (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and point of zero charge (PZC) to elucidate the possible fluoride adsorption mechanism. Finally according to our results both composites can be considered as efficient adsorbents for fluoride removal from water. © 2016, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana Iztapalapa. All rights reserved.

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