Template-free synthesis of urchin-like iron-cerium oxides for highly efficient arsenate removal from water

The realization of adsorbents for highly efficient arsenic (As) removal from water is of very importance but challenging in the water treatment. Herein, we synthesized urchin-like iron-cerium oxides (UICO) via a simple and green one-pot method without template. The As(V) adsorption kinetics and isotherm reveal that UICO can effectively remove the 92 % of arsenate (As(V)) within 30 min under the As(V) initial concentration of 10 mg/L, and exhibits a high maximum As(V) adsorption capacity of 158.35 mg/g, which is superior to that of most reported Fe/Ce-based inorganic adsorbents. Moreover, As(V) adsorption mechanism study reveals that the As(V) adsorption involves ion-exchange between As(V) in water and the hydroxyl groups of UICO. The UICO has good potential as an environmental functional material to efficiently remove As(V) from water in practical applications.