Halloysite nanotubes: an eco-friendly adsorbent for the adsorption of Th(IV)/U(VI) ions from aqueous solution

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - In this study, the halloysite nanotubes was characterized and the adsorption of Th(IV) and U(VI) on halloysite nanotubes was investigated as a...     

Removal of Th(IV) ions from aqueous solution using bi-functionalized algae-yeast biosorbent

Composites could be more effective adsorbents than inorganic and organic components individually. In the present study, the red macro marine algae, Jania Rubens and yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae immobilized on silica gel were used as a constituent of bi-functionalized biosorbent to remove thorium ions from aqueous solution. Optimum biosorption conditions were determined as a function of pH, initial Th(IV) concentration, contact time, temperature, volume/mass ratio and co-ion effect. The morphological analysis of the biocomposite was performed by the scanning electron microscopy and functional groups in the biosorbent were determined by FT-IR spectroscopy. In order to find the adsorption characteristics, Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin–Radushkevich adsorption isotherms were applied to the adsorption data. The data were well described by Langmuir adsorption isotherms while the fit of Freundlich adsorption isotherms and Dubinin–Radushkevich equation to adsorption data was poor. Using the equilibrium constant value obtained at different temperature, the thermodynamics properties of the biosorption (ΔG°, ΔH° and ΔS°) were also determined. The results show that biosorption of Th(IV) ions onto biocomposite was exothermic nature, spontaneous and more favorable at lower temperature under examined conditions.     

Preparation of Fe3O4@SiO2@MnO2 microspheres as an adsorbent for Th(IV) removal from aqueous solution

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - A magnetic nano-composites Fe3O4@SiO2@MnO2 were fabricated for efficient removal of Th(IV) from aqueous solutions, and characterized by SEM, TEM,...     

Adsorption of Th(IV) from aqueous solution by the graphene oxide nanoribbons/chitosan composite material

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - In order to reduce the potential toxicity to the environment after treatment of radioactive waste water, an eco-friendly graphene oxide...     

Modifying attapulgite clay by ammonium citrate tribasic for the removal of radionuclide Th(IV) from aqueous solution

The ammonium citrate tribasic was successfully modified to attapulgite clay and the effect of modifying was characterized by FTIR and XRD techniques. Experimental results showed that the ammonium citrate tribasic modified attapulgite clay had a strong sorption ability to remove Th(IV) from aqueous solutions. The sorption of Th(IV) from aqueous solutions has been systematically investigated as a function of several variables including contact time, solid content, pH, ionic strength, Fulvic acid (FA)/humic acid (HA) and temperature under ambient conditions. The results indicate that the sorption of Th(IV) onto ammonium citrate tribasic modified attapulgite clay is strongly dependent on pH, Th(IV) initial concentration, ionic strength, temperature and HA/FA. Surface complexation and ionic exchange are the main sorption mechanisms. Sorption of Th(IV) onto ammonium citrate tribasic modified attapulgite is quick and can be fitted by a pseudo-second-order rate model very well. Sorption of Th(IV) onto ammonium citrate tribasic modified attapulgite is promoted at higher temperature and the sorption reaction is an endothermic process. Langmuir isotherm model fits the experimental data better than Freundlich and D-R isotherm models. The results suggest that the ammonium citrate tribasic modified attapulgite sample is a suitable material in the preconcentration and solidification of radionuclide Th(IV) from large volumes of aqueous solutions.     

EXAFS investigation of U(VI), U(IV), and Th(IV) sulfato complexes in aqueous solution

The local structure of U(VI), U(IV), and Th(IV) sulfato complexes in aqueous solution was investigated by U-L(3) and Th-L(3) EXAFS spectroscopy for total sulfate concentrations 0.05 < or = [SO(4)(2-)] < or = 3 M and 1.0 < or = pH < or = 2.6. The sulfate coordination was derived from U-S and Th-S distances and coordination numbers. The spectroscopic results were combined with thermodynamic speciation and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In equimolar [SO(4)(2-)]/[UO(2)(2+)] solution, a U-S distance of 3.57 +/- 0.02 Angstrom suggests monodentate coordination, in line with UO(2)SO(4)(aq) as the dominant species. With increasing [SO(4)(2-)]/[UO(2)(2+)] ratio, an additional U-S distance of 3.11 +/- 0.02 Angstrom appears, suggesting bidentate coordination in line with the predominance of the UO(2)(SO(4))(2)(2-) species. The sulfate coordination of Th(IV) and U(IV) was investigated at [SO(4)(2-)]/[M(IV)] ratios > or = 8. The Th(IV) sulfato complex comprises both, monodentate and bidentate coordination, with Th-S distances of 3.81 +/- 0.02 and 3.14 +/- 0.02 Angstrom, respectively. A similar coordination is obtained for U(IV) sulfato complexes at pH 1 with monodentate and bidentate U-S distances of 3.67 +/- 0.02 and 3.08 +/- 0.02 Angstrom, respectively. By increasing the pH value to 2, a U(IV) sulfate precipitates. This precipitate shows only a U-S distance of 3.67 +/- 0.02 Angstrom in line with a monodentate linkage between U(IV) and sulfate. Previous controversially discussed observations of either monodentate or bidentate sulfate coordination in aqueous solutions can now be explained by differences of the [SO(4)(2-)]/[M] ratio. At low [SO(4)(2-)]/[M] ratios, the monodentate coordination prevails, and bidentate coordination becomes important only at higher ratios.     

Poly（vinylpyridine） adsorbent for the removal of SIPA from its aqueous solution

Poly(vinylpyridine) WH-225 resin was prepared and characterized.Compared with the commercial hypercrosslinked adsorbent NDA-100 and macroporous adsorbent XAD-4 resins,the newly synthesized poly(vinylpyridine) WH-225 resin exhibited the highest adsorption capacity toward SIPA from aqueous solution.     

Efficient adsorption of uranium (VI) from aqueous solution by a novel modified steel slag adsorbent

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Using steel slag as a raw material, a new type of adsorption material has been prepared by acid modification method. The preparation conditions of...     

Salvadora Persica branches biomass adsorbent for removal of uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) from aqueous solution: kinetics and thermodynamics study

Adsorption isotherms of U(VI) and Th(IV) in water were obtained and removal kinetics was studied. The main functional groups on the surface of Salvadora Persica branches adsorbent were identified using a Fourier-transform infrared and the surface morphology of adsorbent was characterized by a Scanning Electron Microscope. Effects of the U(VI) and Th(IV) initial concentrations, contact time, the mass of adsorbent loading, pH of the solution were investigated at 25?±?0.3 °C. The efficiencies with which this adsorbent removes U(VI) and Th(IV) from their solutions in water are reported. The adsorption isotherm fitted the Freundlich model. The adsorption of U(VI) and Th(IV) follows the pseudo-second order kinetic with squared correlation coefficients (R²) close to 1.0. The thermodynamic parameters (i.e. the free energy (\(\Delta G_{\text{ads}}^{o}\)), the enthalpy (\(\Delta H_{\text{ads}}^{o}\)) and the entropy of adsorption (\(\Delta S_{\text{ads}}^{o}\)) for the adsorption of U(VI) and Th(IV) on the Salvadora Persica branches adsorbent were reported.

     

Role of solution chemistry on the trapping of radionuclide Th(IV) using titanate nanotubes as an efficient adsorbent

Titanate nanotubes (TNTs) have attracted great interest in multidisciplinary study since their discovery. The adsorption of thorium [Th(IV)] onto TNTs in the absence and presence of humic acid (HA)/fulvic acid (FA) was studied by batch technique. The influence of pH from 2.0 to 10.0, ionic strength from 0.001 to 0.1 mol L^?1 NaClO₄, and coexisting electrolyte cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺) and antions (ClO₄ ^?, NO₃ ^?, Cl^?) on the adsorption of Th(IV) onto TNTs was tested. The adsorption isotherms of Th(IV) was determined at pH 3.0 and analyzed with Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models, respectively. The results demonstrated that the adsorption of Th(IV) onto TNTs increases steeply with increasing pH from 2.0 to 4.0. Generally, HA/FA was showed to enhance Th(IV) adsorption onto TNTs at low pH values, but to reduce Th(IV) adsorption onto TNTs at high pH values. The adsorption of Th(IV) onto TNTs was also dependent on coexisting electrolyte ions in aqueous solution under our experimental conditions. The adsorption of Th(IV) onto TNTs is exothermic and spontaneous. The findings indicating that TNTs can be used as a promising candidate for the enrichment and solidification of Th(IV) or its analogue actinides from large volume solution in real work.     

Recovery of pyridine from aqueous solution by membrane pervaporation

Three different membranes, based on poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), cation-exchange material and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) respectively, were tudied for the separation of pyridine-water mixtures by pervaporation. The PDMS membrane was preferentially permeable to pyridine and the other two were selective towards water. Three membranes showed different permeation performance, allowing the application of the technique to the separation of feeds of different composition. The temperature profile of the permeability suggests that it is possible to carry out the operation at an elevated temperature in order to achieve high productivity. A combination of the three types of membranes was designed for the production of anhydrous pyridine from dilute pyridine aqueous solution by pervaporation.     

Ab initio X-ray absorption spectroscopy study of the solvation structure of Th(IV), U(IV), and Np(IV) in aqueous solution

The coordination structures of U(IV), Np(IV), and Th(IV) in aqueous solution have been determined by studying the X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) of the actinide (An) L(3)-edge absorption spectra. The high sensitivity of XANES to the bonding geometry provides an unambiguous determination of the coordination polyhedron. On the basis of the comparison of ab initio computations with the experimental data we conclude that the hydration sphere of the three An(IV) aqua-ions studied is best modeled by 9 water molecules forming a tricapped trigonal prism.     

Extraction thermodynamics of Th(IV) in various aqueous organic systems

Thermodynamic studies on solvent extraction of Th(IV) have been carried out using TBP and HDEHP as extractants in toluene from aqueous bromide and iodide media containing Arsenazo-III as a colouring reagent. This reagent was used for the spectrophotometric determination of Th(IV). The study was carried out at T = {(283, 298, 313) ± 1} K to evaluate lg K_ex as well as the thermodynamic functions ΔG^°, ΔH^°, and ΔS^° of the extraction reactions. The extracted species and the overall extraction mechanisms are postulated.     

Comparative study on Th(IV) sorption on alumina and silica from aqueous solutions

The effects of pH, ionic strength and concentration on the sorption of Th(IV) on alumina and silica were investigated and the sorption isotherms of Th(IV) on alumina and silica at different pH values were determined. It was found for both sorbents that the absorbability of silica is less than that of alumina. The relative sorption rate of silica is similar to that of alumina. The sorption edges are similar to each other, that the insensitivity of sorption to ionic strength is about the same. These similarities between the sorbents suggest that the speciation of Th(IV) in aqueous solutions plays a significant, but subtle role, in controlling the sorption process, because the charges of both sorbents are distinctly different. The mechanism of Th(IV) sorption on alumina is distinctly different from that of the sorptions of Cs⁺, Eu³⁺ and Yb³⁺ on alumina, and similar to that of the sorption of Co(II) on alumina.     

Hydrolytic precipitation reaction of titanium(IV) from (Na,H)Cl aqueous solution

The hydrolytic precipitation of titanium(IV) in 2.0 mol dm⁻³ (Na, H)Cl aqueous solution at 25.0°C has been studied by measuring the free hydrogen ion concentration by a potentiometric method and the aqueous concentration of titanium(IV) by a spectrophotometric method. Under conditions where the solution is saturated with regard to precipitated titanyl(IV) hydroxide, monomeric and polycationic species, such as, TiO²⁺, TiO(OH)₂, and [(TiO)₈(OH)₁₂]⁴⁺, were deduced as being present in the solution. A scheme for the hydrolytic precipitation equilibria has been deduced.     

Highly efficient elimination of thorium(IV) from aqueous solution using poly(cyclotriphosphazene-co-melamine) microspheres

Highly crosslinked organic–inorganic hybrid polymer poly(cyclotriphosphazene-co-melamine) microspheres (PZM) were synthesized by a simple method. The microspheres was characterized by FTIR, SEM and EDX. It was applied to eliminate thorium(IV) from aqueous solution under various conditions, i.e., pH, initial concentration, dosage and contact time. The experimental data were well-imitated via the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and its adsorption processes comply with the Langmuir isotherm model. Adsorption thermodynamic studies demonstrated that the adsorption process, in essence, was spontaneous and endothermic. Furthermore, the maximum experimental adsorption capacity was 98.6 mg g^?1 for initial thorium(IV) concentration 50 mg L^?1. When pH?=?0.0, the thorium(IV) removal efficiency reached at 76.9%, which indicates that the adsorbent can also was used in a peracid environment. Adsorption behavior of thorium(IV) onto the microspheres were weakly affected via temperature, implying that adsorption would be done at room temperature.