Design and application of an advanced interfacial-engineered resin for the effective deep purification of arsenic and antimony

Aqueous contamination by arsenic and antimony has become a significant concern due to its prevalence in smelting activities. Nowadays, adsorption stands out as an effective method for the removal of these heavy metal ions from water, particularly when the goal is to achieve high levels of purification and ensure safety. However, the complex nature of smelting wastewater often leads to a decrease in the selectivity and salt resistance of adsorbents under industrial conditions. In this study, we introduce a novel designated composite-resin material (KYE003), which is tailored for the deep purification of arsenic and antimony. By precisely adjusting the synthesis ratios, we have controlled the intrinsic kinetics of material synthesis, enabling the in-situ loading of ferric oxide onto the resin surface, coupled with organic functional groups (-COOH and -SH). The resin's inherent porous structure not only promotes the nucleation and growth of amorphous iron oxide but also establishes a quantitative basis for nano-scale binding sites. Further surface characterisation analysis indicates that interfacial functional groups, including (-COOH, -SH, and -OH), are instrumental in the complexation of arsenic and antimony. The synergistic interactions, such as -O-As/Sb, -COO-As/Sb, and -S-As/Sb, demonstrate that the hybridisation of these groups restructures the interfacial electronic state, thereby enhancing the adsorption performance. The KYE003 material exhibits exceptional adsorptive selectivity and chemical stability under complex conditions, capable of maintaining arsenic concentrations in the effluent below 20 µg·L⁻¹ until the bed volumes ratio surpasses 6240. This research presents a new perspective for the deep purification of heavy metal ions.