Fe Oxo-Hydroxides and Their Potential Utilization in Reducing the Content of Some Undesirable Elements in the Natural Environment by Sorption Mechanisms

Abstract

Oxy-hydroxides are suitable inorganic sorbents for many natural elements due to their high sorption capacity, large specific surface area and positive surface charge. They occur extensively in natural environment and, therefore, their utilization as a scavenger of many elements is inexpensive and effective. Adsorption of ions on Fe oxides controls the mobility of species in various parts of the ecosystem and thereby their transport between them. The extent of adsorption depends on the affinity of the anions to the surface, their relative concentration, the presence of competing ions in solution, temperature, time, pH and the sorbent properties. Pollution of the environment with unwanted elements is increasing and, therefore, there is an increasing demand for the removal of these elements. The study of sorption can be useful in various areas (research, agriculture, soil remediation, recultivation, health of population).