Adsorption of UO2 2+, Tl+, Pb2+, Ra2+ and Ac3+ onto polyacrylamide-bentonite composite

Composite of polyacrylamide-bentonite (PAA-B) was prepared by direct polymerization in a suspension of bentonite (B), the composite was then modified by phytic acid (PAA-B-Phy). The parameters related to adsorption of UO₂ ²⁺ in absence and presence of 0.01M CaCl₂ and of natural radionuclides (Tl⁺, Pb²⁺, Ra²⁺ and Ac³⁺ in a leaching solution) onto PAA-B and PAA-B-Phy, and thermodynamics of the adsorption were investigated. Adsorption isotherms were of L and H types for the adsorption of UO₂ ²⁺ onto PAA-B and PAA-B-Phy, whilst for Tl⁺, Pb²⁺, Ra²⁺ and Ac³⁺ they were of C type for both adsorbents. Langmuir equilibrium constants for the adsorption of all studied ions onto PAA-B-Phy were significantly higher than those found for PAA-B. The thermodynamic parameters indicated that adsorption reactions are spontaneous in terms of adsorption free enthalpy. The composite of PAA-B and its modification by Phy have been used for the first time in this study. It is concluded that the composites can be practically used for adsorption and applied as adsorbent of radionuclides.     

UO2 2+, Tl+, Pb2+, Ra2+, Bi3+ and Ac3+ adsorption onto polyacrylamide-zeolite composite and its modified composition by phytic acid

The adsorption of naturally occurring radionuclides (UO₂ ²⁺, Tl⁺, Pb²⁺, Ra²⁺, Bi³⁺ and Ac³⁺) onto zeolite (Z) and polyacrylamide-zeolite composite (PAA-Z) and its modified composition by phytic acid (Z-Phy and PAA-Z-Phy) were investigated. Adsorption parameters were derived from the Langmuir and Freundlich fits to adsorption isotherms of the ions studied. The adsorption isotherms were of L and H types. The adsorption capacity of Z decreased by PAA inclusion, but the Phy modification of PAA-Z increased the capacity back to that of Z. The Phy modification made the adsorption spontaneity at least ten times better than in the absence of Phy. This investigation showed that the zeolite, as one of the most abundant natural materials and commonly used adsorbent can also be used for the removal of UO₂ ²⁺ and, in the PAA-Z form, of the studied radionuclides. The usage of Z, as PAA-Z and its Phy modification provide research materials which possess adequate practicality and effectiveness in studies of adsorption. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Carboxymethyl Chitosan-Fe3O4 Nanoparticles: Preparation and Adsorption Behavior toward Zn2+ Ions

A novel magnetic nanoadsorbent was prepared by the covalent binding of carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) onto the surface of Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles, which was developed using a coprecipitating method. This nanoadsorbent was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), etc. Moreover, the adsorption performance of the nanoadsorbent toward Zn²⁺ ions was investigated. The results showed that the mean diameter of the magnetic nanoadsorbent was 18 nm and the amount of CMC was about 5%. The nanoadsorbent showed high efficiency for the removal of Zn²⁺ ions. The adsorption rate was so rapid that the equilibrium was achieved within 2 min. The isotherm adsorption data obeyed the Langmuir model, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 20.4 mg·g^?1 and an adsorption equilibrium constant of 0.0314 L·mg^?1. The thermodynamic calculations indicated that the adsorption process was exothermic and that the enthalpy change was ?5.68 kJ·mol^?1.     

Adsorptive features of polyacrylic acid hydrogel for UO2 2+

Polyacrylic acid hydrogel was synthesized by Free Radical polymerization and characterized by means of FTIR. The FTIR results show that the carboxylic groups in the complexes coordinated to the metal ions in the form of two dentate. The effects of contact time, solid/liquid ratio, pH value, and initial concentration on the adsorption of UO₂ ²⁺ ions onto polyacrylic acid were investigated. The adsorption of UO₂ ²⁺ ions was highly dependent on the initial pH of metal ions solution and initial metal ions concentration. The adsorption kinetic data indicated that the chemical adsorption was the swiftness processes, the adsorption equilibrium could be achieved within 15 min. And there are very good correlation coefficients of linearized equations for Freundlich model, which indicated that the sorption isotherm of the hydrogel for UO₂ ²⁺ can be fitted to the Freundlich model. It was found that the maximum adsorption quantity of UO₂ ²⁺ was 1,179 mg/g. After five times of repeated tests for the hydrogel it still remained its excellent adsorption.     

Adsorption of UO2 2+ from aqueous solution onto copolymers of styrene and maleic anhydride

The copolymers of styrene and maleic anhydride resin (PSt/MA) was synthesized by free radical polymerization and characterized by means of FTIR. It is shown that the PSt/MA copolymer has rather strong coordination ability to UO₂ ²⁺ ions by chelation with the carboxylate group, and the microstructures of the U(VI)-PSt/MA complexes can be well controlled. The influence factors on UO₂ ²⁺ ions were also investigated and described in detail, such as contact time, solid/liquid ratio, pH value, ethanol content, and initial concentration. It was found that the maximum adsorption quantity of UO₂ ²⁺ was 831 mg/g. Experiments show that PSt/MA can recover UO₂ ²⁺ ions with high adsorption selectively from a simulated industry solution containing Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ as impurities. The adsorption kinetic data were best described by the pseudo-second-order equation, indicating that the chemical adsorption was the rate-limiting step. And there are very good correlation coefficients of linearized equations for Langmuir model, which indicated that the sorption isotherm of the PSt/MA for UO₂ ²⁺ can be fitted to the Langmuir model. After five times of repeated tests for the hydrogel it still remained its excellent adsorption.     

Chelation ion-exchange properties of salicylic acid-urea-formaldehyde copolymers

Chelation ion-exchange properties of copolymers prepared from salicylic acid, urea and formaldehyde by condensation in presence of acid catalyst were studied for Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, UO²⁺, Mn²⁺,Zn²⁺ and Co²⁺ ions. A batch equilibration method was adopted to study the selectivity of metal ion uptake. This method involved the measurement of distribution of a given metal between the copolymer sample and a solution containing the metal ions. The study was carried out over a wide pH range and in media of various ionic strengths. The copolymer showed a higher selectivity for UO₂ ²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions than Mn²⁺, Co²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions.     

ADSORPTION OF UO2 2+ BY POLYETHYLENE HOLLOW FIBER MEMBRANE WITH AMIDOXIME GROUP

The polyethylene (PE) membrane was prepared by the radiation-induced grafting of acrylonitrile (AN) onto PE hollow fiber and by the subsequent amidoximation of cyano groups in poly-AN graft chains. The adsorption characteristics of the chelating hollow fiber membrane was examined as the solution of UO₂ ²⁺ permeated across the chelating hollow fiber membrane. The inner and outer diameter increased with an increasing grafting yield, whereas, the pure water flux and pore diameter decreased with an increasing grafting yield. The adsorption of UO₂ ²⁺ by the chelating hollow fiber membranes increased with an increasing amidoxime group. The adsorbed amount of UO₂ ²⁺ in the uranyl acetate solution was higher than that in the uranyl nitrate solution. The adsorbed amount of UO₂ ²⁺ is higher than that of Cu²⁺ when the solution of UO₂ ²⁺ and Cu²⁺ permeated across the chelating membrane, respectively. The adsorption characteristics of UO₂ ²⁺ by the amidoxime group-chelating fiber membrane in the presence of Na¹⁺ and Ca²⁺ showed a high selectivity for UO₂ ²⁺ even though there was a high concen-tration of Na¹⁺ and Ca²⁺ in the inlet solution.     

Adsorption of Co2+ and Zn2+ on cryptomelane-type hydrous managese dioxide

Co²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions are adsorbed on cryptomelane-type MnO₂ by exchange with surface protons and with structural ions (probably K⁺ and/or Mn²⁺) in the oxide. The latter sites are responsible for the much higher capacity to these cations, compared to Na⁺. At all pH values, two straight lines expressing the presence of mainly two groups of sites with distinctly different adsorption energies are located in the Langmuir plots for both Co²⁺ and Zn²⁺. The apparent capacities of the two groups increase with the increase of pH, indicating the involvement of protons in the adsorption process over the whole concentration range. The higher Co²⁺ capacity at relatively low pH, compared to the Zn²⁺ capacity, is probably due to a more exchange with the structural ions. Crytomelane type MnO₂ seems to be a quite heterogenous ion adsorbent whose adsorption sites could be approximated to two groups only.     

Adsorption properties of amine modified lignin-hydrogel composite for uranyl ions: Theoretical and experimental insights

A new modified material was synthesized and characterized as ethylene diamine modified (EA) Polyacrylamide (PAA)-Lignin (L). The adsorption features of EA modified PAA-L were studied for uranyl ions. The characterization experiments were evaluated by FT-IR spectroscopic techniques, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and PZC analysis. Adsorption of UO₂²⁺ ions as a function of concentration, pH, temperature, and time of adsorption were studied. The adsorption phenomenon of UO₂²⁺ ions onto PAA-L-EA from aqueous medium was successfully evaluated by various equilibrium models such as Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-Radushkevich (DR). The (Qe) maximum adsorption capacity values for Langmuir model was calculated as 0.792 kg mol^?1 by using experimental data. The constant values of thermodynamic parameters such as (ΔG°), (ΔH°) and (ΔS°) were calculated and it has observed that the mechanism of adsorption was found compatible with endothermic and spontaneous owing to increasing disorderliness at solution/solid system. The adsorption mechanism is compatible with Elovich and intraparticle diffusion models. The power of the interaction between modified lignin and uranyl ?on was explained in the light of Hard and Soft Acid-Base Principle.     

A serial of 2D Co-Zn isomorphous metal–organic frameworks for photodegradation and luminescent detection properties

A series of 2D isomorphous MOFs [M (HBTC)(BMIOPE)·DMF·H₂O]_n (M = Zn ( 1 ), Zn_0.7Co_0.3 ( 2 ), Zn_0.5Co_0.5 ( 3 ), Zn_0.3Co_0.7 ( 4 ), Co ( 5 ), H₃BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid, BMIOPE = 4,4′-bis(2-methylimidazol-1-yl)diphenyl ether) were synthesized to investigate the correction between the center metal ions and the photocatalytic behaviors. The photocatalytic results show that with the increase of Co²⁺ content, the photodegradation properties are continuously improved from 1 to 5 , which fully indicate that only changing metal ions could regulate the photodegradation properties. In detail, 1 is an inactive photocatalyst to degrade methylene blue (MB), while 5 exhibits preeminent photocatalytic properties under visible light irradiation. Moreover, 1 shows good selective sensing toward Fe³⁺, Cr³⁺, UO₂²⁺, CrO₄²⁻ and Cr₂O₇²⁻ ions in aqueous solution. To the best of our knowledge, 1 is the first MOF example for the optical detection of Fe³⁺, Cr³⁺, UO₂²⁺, CrO₄²⁻ and Cr₂O₇²⁻ ions in aqueous solution.     

Adsorption of UO2+2 by polyethylene adsorbents with amidoxime,carboxyl, and amidoxime/carboxyl group

The polyethylene (PE) adsorbents were prepared by a radiation-induced grafting of acrylonitrile (AN), acrylic acid (AA), and the mixture of AN/AA onto PE film, and by subsequent amidoximation of cyano groups of poly-AN graft chains. With an increase of AA composition in AN/AA monomer mixture, the water uptake of the grafted polyethylene film increased. In AN/AA mixture, the maximum adsorption of UO²⁺₂ was observed in the adsorbent with a ratio of AN/AA (50/50, mol%) in copolymer. The amidoxime, carboxyl, and amidoxime/carboxyl groups onto PE acted as a chelating site for the selected UO²⁺₂. The complex structure of polyethylene with three functional groups and UO²⁺₂ was confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.     

Fluctuation in occupancy of Cu2+ ions in Zn- and Cd-substituted Cu-ferrites

Mössbauer effect technique has been used for the comparative study of Cu_1?x Zn _x Fe₂O₄ and Cu_1?x Cd _x Fe₂O₄ ( _x = 0.0?1.0) ferrites. Both Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ cations are divalent, non-magnetic ions with different ionic radii. With the substitution of these non-magnetic cations the average internal magnetic field decreases and paramagnetic behavior is dominated at x = 0.7 in both series. It is observed that the occupancy of Cu²⁺ ions for tetrahedral site is not constant for all compositions but fluctuate between 8–15%. It is also found that Cu²⁺ ions have more preference for tetrahedral site in Cu-Zn system as compared to the Cu-Cd system. Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ both ions occupy tetrahedral site completely and form normal spinels for x = 1.0.     

MnO2 nanozyme induced the chromogenic reactions of ABTS and TMB to visual detection of Fe2+ and Pb2+ ions in water

In this study, we used a simple and rapid colourimetric reaction for visual sensing of Fe²⁺ and Pb²⁺ ions in water by employing nano-MnO₂ as a natural oxidase mimic to respectively catalyse ABTS and TMB in citrate-phosphate buffer solution (C-PBS) at 25°C and pH 3.8. It was found that nano-MnO₂ possessed highly oxidase-mimicking activity with the K_m values of 0.030 and 0.027 toward ABTS and TMB, respectively, indicating TMB had a stronger affinity on nano-MnO₂ than ABTS. Interestingly, the presence of 0.01 mmol·L^?1 Fe²⁺/Pb²⁺ ion was able to significantly down-regulate the activity of MnO₂ nanozyme in nano-MnO₂-mediated ABTS reaction processes (P < 0.01), which mainly due to the strong adsorption of metal ion toward nano-MnO₂ surface via the electrostatic attractions, thus leading to the passivation and inactivation of MnO₂ nanozyme catalytic activity. Thereinto, Fe²⁺ reacted with multivalent manganese by oxidation-reduction, while Pb²⁺ was specifically adsorbed onto the surface of MnO₂ nanozyme and formed complexes. Notably, only Fe²⁺ ion inhibited the activity of MnO₂ nanozyme-TMB with a detection limit as low as 1.0 μmol·L^?1. In MnO₂ nanozyme-ABTS sensing systems, Fe²⁺ and Pb²⁺ ions detection limit of 0.5 and 2.0 μmol·L^?1 were, respectively, achieved with a linear response range of 0–0.02 and 0–0.8 mmol·L^?1, implying the developed MnO₂ nanozyme-ABTS sensor was potentially applicable for the visual determination of Fe²⁺ and Pb²⁺ ions in water. In the real water samples, MnO₂ nanozyme-ABTS achieved high accuracy (relative errors: 3.4?10.5%) and recovery (96?110%) for respective detection of Fe²⁺ and Pb²⁺ ions. The simple and rapid MnO₂ nanozyme-ABTS sensing systems might provide a practical assay for visual detection of Fe²⁺ and Pb²⁺ ions in the environmental water samples.     

Scavenging of UO2 2+ using 4-sulfonic calix[6]arene in the presence of goethite

The scavenging of UO₂ ²⁺ using 4-sulfonic calix[6]arene in the presence of a strong adsorbent was studied as a function of pH. The adsorbent selected was goethite because of its strong affinity for UO₂ ²⁺ and its abundance in natural soils. In order to understand the underlying chemistry of the scavenging process, the adsorption of UO₂ ²⁺ and 4-sulfonic calix[6]arene onto goethite, respectively, and the extraction of adsorbed UO₂ ²⁺ from goethite surface were modeled using the triple-layer model. The model well explained the pH dependence of the adsorption and extraction processes. This work showed that maximum extraction was obtained around pH 10.5 in the presence of 12g/l goethite in the case of a 1:3T _U(VI):T _calixareneratio.     

Organoclay modified with lignin as a new adsorbent for removal of Pb2+ and UO2 2+

This study investigated a new adsorbent prepared from lignin modified organoclay for the removal of Pb²⁺ and UO₂ ²⁺ from aqueous solutions. The characterization of new adsorbent was performed by FT-IR and XRD. Adsorption of Pb²⁺ and UO₂ ²⁺ species in aqueous solution as a function of ion concentration, pH, temperature and time of adsorption was investigated in detail. The adsorption data were analyzed by using the Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich models. The monolayer adsorption capacities of organoclay–lignin were 0.12 mol kg^?1 and 0.42 mol kg^?1 for Pb²⁺ and UO₂ ²⁺, respectively. The experimental kinetic data were analyzed by using pseudo-second-order kinetic and intra-particle diffusion models. The proposed adsorption mechanism follows a pseudo-second-order kinetic and endothermic because of increasing disorderliness at adsorbate/adsorbent interface.     

Luminescent CdSe-ZnS quantum dots as selective Cu2+ probe

Luminescent CdSe-ZnS quantum dots (QDs) were modified with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and used as selective copper ion probe. The fluorescence of the water-soluble QDs can be quenched only by Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺ in physiological buffer solution. Approximate concentrations of other physiologically important cations, such as Zn²⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺ etc. have no effect on the fluorescence. Adding F⁻ to form the colorless complex FeF₆³⁻ can eliminate the interference of Fe³⁺. The detection limit of Cu²⁺ ions was 10 nM. The results can be explained in terms of strong binding of Cu²⁺ onto the surface of CdSe resulting in a chemical displacement of Cd²⁺ ions and the formation of CuSe on the surface of the QDs.     

Encapsulating nanosilica into polyacrylic acid and chitosan interpenetrating network hydrogel for preconcentration of uranium from aqueous solutions

Polyacrylic acid, Chitosan and nanosilica particles composite (PCNS) was prepared for enrichment of U (VI) from aqueous solutions. Adsorption tests controlled by different parameters including contact time, pH, initial concentration of UO₂²⁺ and coexistence ions were examined. FTIR, SEM and EDX studies proved the formation of composite and confirmed efficient adsorption of UO₂²⁺ by PCNS. The experimental datas fit the Langmuir and pseudo-second-order models, the R_L (0.115–0.645) indicates the adsorption of UO₂²⁺ onto PCNS are favorable. The value of q_m (451.118 mg g^?1) and adsorption–desorption experiments showed PCNS hydrogel can be reckoned as a high efficienct and sustainable material for removal of U (VI).     

Adsorption kinetic, isotherm and thermodynamic studies of Sr2+ onto hexagonal tungsten oxide

Hexagonal tungsten oxide (hex-WO₃) with exchangeable sodium and ammonium cations located in hexagonal channel was synthesized by a facile hydrothermal treatment of sodium tungstate dihydrate in concentrated HCl solution in the presence of ammonium sulfate. An attempt was made to assess the potential of hex-WO₃ for the adsorption of Sr²⁺ ions from acidic radioactive waste solutions. Adsorption of Sr²⁺ reached equilibrium very quickly in 2 h in acidic aqueous solution. Maximum removal of Sr²⁺ ions occurred at pH 4. Equilibrium studies showed that the extent of Sr²⁺ ions uptake by hex-WO₃ was better described by the Freundlich isotherm in comparison with the Langmuir model. The thermodynamic parameters showed that the adsorption of Sr²⁺ ions onto hex-WO₃ was spontaneous and exothermic under the studied conditions.     

Adsorption of UO2 2+ on poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid): effects of pH, ionic strength, initial uranyl concentration, and temperature

We prepared poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (P(DEA-co-AA)) microgels which could efficiently remove UO₂ ²⁺ from aqueous solutions. In this study, the effect of adsorption parameters such as pH value, adsorbent dose, shaking time, and temperature has investigated. It is found that the pseudo-second-order model is more suitable for our experiment. The adsorption kinetic data indicated that the chemical adsorption was the swiftness processes, the adsorption equilibrium could be achieved within 30 min. And there are very good correlation coefficients of linearized equations for Langmuir isotherm model, which indicated that the sorption isotherm of the hydrogel for UO₂ ²⁺ can be fitted to the Langmuir isotherm model. The adsorption process was spontaneous (?G ⁰ < 0) and exothermic (?H ⁰ < 0). The adsorbed UO₂ ²⁺ can be desorbed effectively by 0.1 M HNO₃ and the adsorption capacity is not significantly reduced after five cycles. Present study suggests that this P(DEA-co-AA) can be used as a potential adsorbent for sorption UO₂ ²⁺ and also provide a simple, fast separation method for removal of UO₂ ²⁺ ions from aqueous solution.     

Metal-ion-dependent folding of a uranyl-specific DNAzyme: insight into function from fluorescence resonance energy transfer studies

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) has been used to study the global folding of an uranyl (UO₂²⁺)‐specific 39E DNAzyme in the presence of Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺, or UO₂²⁺. At pH 5.5 and physiological ionic strength (100 mM Na⁺), two of the three stems in this DNAzyme folded into a compact structure in the presence of Mg²⁺ or Zn²⁺. However, no folding occurred in the presence of Pb²⁺ or UO₂²⁺; this is analogous to the “lock‐and‐key” catalysis mode first observed in the Pb²⁺‐specific 8–17 DNAzyme. However, Mg²⁺ and Zn²⁺ exert different effects on the 8–17 and 39E DNAzymes. Whereas Mg²⁺ or Zn²⁺‐dependent folding promoted 8–17 DNAzyme activity, the 39E DNAzyme folding induced by Mg²⁺ or Zn²⁺ inhibited UO₂²⁺‐specific activity. Group IIA series of metal ions (Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺) also caused global folding of the 39E DNAzyme, for which the apparent binding affinity between these metal ions and the DNAzyme decreases as the ionic radius of the metal ions increases. Because the ionic radius of Sr²⁺ (1.12 Å) is comparable to that of Pb²⁺ (1.20 Å), but contrary to Pb²⁺, Sr²⁺ induces the DNAzyme to fold under identical conditions, ionic size alone cannot account for the unique folding behaviors induced by Pb²⁺ and UO₂²⁺. Under low ionic strength (30 mM Na⁺), all four metal ions (Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺, and UO₂²⁺), caused 39E DNAzyme folding, suggesting that metal ions can neutralize the negative charge of DNA‐backbone phosphates in addition to playing specific catalytic roles. Mg²⁺ at low (<2 mM ) concentration promoted UO₂²⁺‐specific activity, whereas Mg²⁺ at high (>2 mM ) concentration inhibited the UO₂²⁺‐specific activity. Therefore, the lock‐and‐key mode of DNAzymes depends on ionic strength, and the 39E DNAzyme is in the lock‐and‐key mode only at ionic strengths of 100 mM or greater.