Separation of thorium from aqueous solution using silk fibroin

In this study we investigate the basic features of thorium adsorption from aqueous systems by silk fibroin. Our previous study showed that this biopolymer has high efficiency for U(VI) adsorption. It is well-known that thorium, which is a tetravalent metal, is a more reactive element than uranium. Thorium(IV) adsorption proves to be very rapid and dependent on pH, temperature, retention time, concentration of ion, amount of fibroin, volume of solution and volume-to-mass ratio.