Adsorption Mechanisms in Aqueous Solutions Using Diatomite
Summary
Diatomite is a naturally occurring, highly porous siliceous material derived from fossilised diatom frustules. Its intrinsic high specific surface area, hierarchical pore network and abundance of surface silanol groups underpin its capacity to remove contaminants from water via physisorption, chemisorption, pore‐filling and surface complexation. In physisorption, van der Waals forces and electrostatic interactions draw dissolved species onto the mineral surface, while chemisorption involves the formation of stronger coordinate bonds at active sites. Adsorption behaviour is characterised by isotherm models (such as Langmuir and Freundlich) and kinetic schemes (notably pseudo‐first‐order and pseudo‐second‐order), with thermodynamic parameters indicating spontaneity and the nature of binding. Native diatomite can be activated through thermal treatment, alkali or acid leaching, and surface functionalisation with polymers, metals or organic ligands. These modifications enhance pore volume, charge density and functional group density, thereby boosting uptake of heavy metals, dyes and oxyanions. The combination of low cost, wide availability and tunable surface chemistry makes diatomite a globally significant candidate for water treatment, resource recovery and environmental remediation, with potential for integration into fixed‐bed columns, composite materials and regeneration cycles.
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Adsorption Mechanisms in Aqueous Solutions Using Diatomite publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in adsorption mechanisms in aqueous solutions using diatomite across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Adsorption isotherm: Relationship between solute concentration and the amount adsorbed at equilibrium on an adsorbent’s surface.
Specific surface area: Measure of total surface area of a material per unit mass, influencing its adsorption capacity.
Langmuir model: Theoretical isotherm assuming monolayer adsorption on a homogeneous surface with finite binding sites.
Freundlich model: Empirical isotherm describing adsorption on heterogeneous surfaces with variable affinities.
Chemisorption: Adsorption involving the formation of strong chemical bonds between adsorbate and adsorbent.
Surface complexation: Mechanism where adsorbate species form coordinate bonds with functional groups on the adsorbent surface.
References
- Enhanced Adsorption of Trivalent Arsenic from Water by Functionalized Diatom Silica Shells. PLOS ONE (2015).
- Strengthening the surface and adsorption properties of diatomite for removal of Cr(VI) and methylene blue dye. Arabian Journal of Geosciences (2022).
- Modified Natural Diatomite with Various Additives and Its Environmental Potential. Materials (2023).
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