Clean and facile solution synthesis of iron(III)-entrapped γ-alumina nanosorbents for arsenic removal

Iron(III)-entrapped γ-alumina nanosorbents were prepared by an environmentally benign method using an ionothermal process based on an ionic liquid to synthesize the γ-alumina host and a sonochemical method to entrap the iron(III) guest. The morphology of the alumina depends on the aluminum precursor used, giving aligned bundled and randomly debundled γ-alumina nanorods as well as wormlike mesoporous alumina. In particular, the rodlike structure shows significantly greater mesoporosity than the wormlike porous γ-alumina structure. Moreover, entrapment of iron(III) in the γ-alumina nanosorbents with randomly debundled rodlike structures leads to the greatest AsV removal capacity and the fastest adsorption rate as compared to the other FeIII-entrapped adsorbents, as a result of its larger surface area and pore sizes. Thus, this method provides a clean and effective route to an advanced host-guest adsorbent system for application in the removal of arsenic from drinking water.