A novel adsorbent for the removal of phosphate in aqueous solution was prepared by immobilizing Fe(Ⅲ) onto collagen fiber (FeICF).The characteristics of phosphate adsorption on FeICF was investigated.The equilibrium adsorption capacities of FeICF for phosphate was 32.69 mg P·g-1 at 303 K when the initial concentration of phosphate was equal to 62.0 mg P·L-1.Maximum phosphate adsorption was observed in the pH range of 3.0—6.0
which implied that the single charged species (H2PO-4) favored the adsorption of phosphate on FeICF.The adsorption isotherm of phosphate on FeICF could be described by the Langmuir equation
and the adsorption capacity increased with increasing temperature.The adsorption kinetics of phosphate on FeICF could be well-described by the pseudo-second-order rate model.The co-existing anions such as Cl-
NO-3
SO2-4 and CO2-3 in the solution had no effect on the adsorption of phosphate on FeICF.