Synthesis of Calcium Silicate Hydrate from Coal Gangue for Cr(VI) and Cu(II) Removal from Aqueous Solution

Both the accumulation of coal gangue and potentially toxic elements in aqueous solution have caused biological damage to the surrounding ecosystem of the Huainan coal mining field. In this study, coal gangue was used to synthesize calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) to remove Cr(VI) and Cu(II)from aqueous solutions and aqueous solution. The optimum parameters for C-S-H synthesis were 700 °C for 1 h and a Ca/Si molar ratio of 1.0. Quantitative sorption analysis was done at variable temperature, C-S-H dosages, solution pH, initial concentrations of metals, and reaction time. The solution pH was precisely controlled by a pH meter. The adsorption temperature was controlled by a thermostatic gas bath oscillator. The error of solution temperature was controlled at ± 0.3, compared with the adsorption temperature. For Cr(VI) and Cu(II), the optimum initial concentration, temperature, and reaction time were 200 mg/L, 40 °C and 90 min, pH 2 and 0.1 g C-S-H for Cr(VI), pH 6 and 0.07 g C-S-H for Cu(II), respectively. The maximum adsorption capacities of Cr(VI) and Cu(II) were 68.03 and 70.42 mg·g(−1), respectively. Furthermore, the concentrations of Cu(II) and Cr(VI) in aqueous solution could meet the surface water quality standards in China. The adsorption mechanism of Cu(II) and Cr(VI) onto C-S-H were reduction, electrostatic interaction, chelation interaction, and surface complexation. It was found that C-S-H is an environmentally friendly adsorbent for effective removal of metals from aqueous solution through different mechanisms.