Enhanced removal of trace Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solution by titanium oxide–Ag composite adsorbents

Abstract Titanium oxide–Ag composite (TOAC) adsorbents were prepared by a facile solution route with Ag nanoparticles being homogeneously dispersed on layered titanium oxide materials. The as-synthesized TOAC exhibited a remarkable capability for trace Cr(VI) removal from an aqueous solution, where the concentration of Cr(VI) could be decreased to a level below 0.05 mg/L within 1 h. We have systematically investigated the factors that influenced the adsorption of Cr(VI), for example, the pH value of the solution, and the contact time of TOAC with Cr(VI). We found that the adsorption of Cr(VI) was strongly pH-dependent. The adsorption behavior of Cr(VI) onto TOAC fitted well the Langmuir isotherm and a maximum adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) as 25.7 mg/g was achieved. The adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, which implied that the adsorption was composed of two steps: the adsorption of Cr(VI) ions onto TOAC followed by the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) by Ag nanoparticles. Our results revealed that TOAC with high capacity of Cr(VI) removal had promising potential for wastewater treatment.