Selective Adsorption of Potassium in Seawater by CoHCF Thin Film Electrode and Its Electrochemical Desorption/Regeneration

Cobalt Hexacyanoferrate (CoHCF) was tested for the selective uptake of K from seawater and the electrochemical method was adopted for the desorption and regeneration of the material. Powder form CoHCF could adsorb about 6.5 mmol/g of K from the seawater. For the ease of the electrochemical desorption and regeneration, CoHCF thin film was coated onto the Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) glass to obtain a CoHCF electrode. K adsorption kinetics on CoHCF thin film was found to be well fitted with the intraparticle diffusion model, which was a two-step process. Five consecutive adsorption-desorption-regeneration cycles were carried out to know the gradual decrease in the adsorption capacity owing to changes in the redox states of two metals, Co and Fe, in the material. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) measurement results corresponded to the color change of CoHCF thin film, indicating the valence change of transition metals and the exchange of alkali metal cations happened on the CoHCF at different operation stages. In order to elucidate the reaction mechanism, composition of the material was analysis in the following steps: adsorption, desorption, and regeneration. It was proved that the system based on CoHCF thin film modified electrode had the potential of recovering potassium from seawater.