Adsorption capacities of Shungite - a Russian Mineral

Abstract

Shungite, a carbon-rich rock of the Precambrian age widespread over Russia, attracts much attention due to possibilities of application in various industrial and medical fields. Carbon acts as an efficient catalyst of hydrogenation at low temperatures, as an adsorbent and filter in water purification processes, and as a multifunctional filler of polymeric and inorganic binders. The presence of the starting components α-SiO2, Fe2O3, carbon C, α-Al2O3, γ-Al2O3, and CaCO3 has been determined by XRD measurement. Particle size distribution of the initial powder indicates large agglomerates with size of 10 microns and larger, confirmed by SEM also. In a batch test, the influence of shungite mass, contact time and temperature on adsorption efficiency of amlodipine, medicament used to treat high blood pressure and coronary artery disease, has been investigated. This material showed moderate adsorption capacity of 54.95 mg/g at 10 mg/l initial amlodipine concentration. The concentrations of amlodipine were determined using UVVIS spectrometry.