Arsenate Removal by Nanostructured ZrO sub(2) Spheres

A new zirconium oxide-based media for arsenate removal from water was fabricated and evaluated in batch and continuous flow experiments. Highly porous ( epsilon sub(P) [asymptotic to] 0.9) nanostructured zirconium oxide spheres were fabricated by the impregnation of macroporous ion-exchange media (CalRes 2103, Calgon) with zirconium salt; the media was then ashed at T > 750 +/-50 degree C to remove the organic polymer resin and obtain ZrO sub(2) spheres. The spheres generally ranged from 200 to 800 mu m in diameter, and consisted of ZrO sub(2) nanoastructures generally ranging between 20 and 100 nm. They also exhibited monoclinic and tetragonal crystalline structures, and had an isoelectric point of 5.6. Equilibrium batch experiments were conducted in 10 mM NaHCO sub(3) buffered nanopure water at three pH values (6.4, 7.3, and 8.3) with 120 mu g/L As(V). Data were fit with the Freundlich isotherm equation (