Bifunctional Adsorbents Based on Jarosites for Removal of Inorganic Micropollutants from Water

This paper presents a novel family of jarosites with the molecular formula MFe3(SO4)(2)(OH)(6)center dot xH(2)O; M = Na, K, NH4 that have high efficiency in the adsorption of As(V) and Pb(II) dissolved in water. The jarosites have been prepared by conventional heating at temperatures close to 95 degrees C for 3 h. The synthesis method was improved and optimized to reduce the time and energy consumption. The improved conventional heating method allowed for the synthesis of Na- and K-jarosites with a yield of up to 97.8 wt.% at 105 and 150 degrees C, respectively, in 3 h. The Na-, K-, and NH4-jarosites were synthesized at 150 degrees C in 5 min via a microwave-assisted method, which yielded jarosite crystalline agglomerates with more uniform topography, shape, and size than the conventional method. Both methods allowed the selective synthesis of jarosites. Chemical decomposition of jarosites suspended in water occurred at a pH less than 2 and higher than 10 and temperatures up to 150 degrees C. In the solid state, the jarosites were thermally stable at least to 300 degrees C. The Na-jarosite presented a maximum adsorption capacity (Q(max)) of 65.6 mg g(-1) for As(V) and 94 mg g(-1) for Pb(II). The jarosites are considered promising bifunctional adsorbents for the remediation of contaminated water due to their improved synthesis method, stability, and high adsorption capacity for ions of different natures.