Feasibility of vanadium ion adsorption/desorption using nickel–aluminum complex hydroxides with different molar ratios

• Ni-Al complex hydroxides (NA21) was prepared for adsorbing vanadium ions. • NA21 showed a superior adsorption capacity of vanadium ions compared to other prepared adsorbents. • Intensity of vanadium(V) onto NA21 surface increased after adsorption. • Adsorbed vanadium ions onto NA21 could be desorbed by sodium hydroxide solution. Herein, metal complex hydroxides containing nickel (Ni) and aluminum (Al) at different molar ratios (Ni:Al = 1:1 (NA11), 1:2 (NA12), 2:1 (NA21), 3:1 (NA31), and 4:1 (NA41)) were prepared. Scanning electron microscopy images, X-ray diffraction patterns, specific surface area, number of hydroxyl groups, and pH pzc were evaluated. Further, the adsorption capacity of vanadium ions was assessed, with NA21 showing a high potential to adsorb vanadium ions from the aqueous phase (177.5 mg/g). In addition, the effects of various factors, including pH, contact time, initial concentration, and temperature, on the adsorption of vanadium ions were demonstrated in this study using NA21. The optimal pH value for adsorbing vanadium ions was 5.0. Adsorption isotherms and kinetic data were fitted to a pseudo-second-order model (correlation coefficient: 0.958) and a Freundlich model (correlation coefficient: 0.930–0.982), respectively. This study elucidated that a part of the adsorption mechanism of vanadium was related to ion exchange and characteristics of NA21 surface. Moreover, NA21 showed capability to selectively adsorb vanadium ions from binary solution system containing chloride, nitrate, or sulfate ions. Vanadium ions adsorbed onto NA21 were more easily desorbed by a sodium hydroxide solution than a sodium sulfate solution. NA21 demonstrated consistent performance over at least three adsorption and desorption cycles under experimental conditions of this study. These findings provided valuable insights into the recovery of vanadium ions from aqueous media via adsorption/desorption treatment using NA21.