Selective sorption of cesium using self-assembled monolayers on mesoporous supports

The synthesis of a novel nanocomposite sorbent material, copper ferrocyanide immobilized within a mesoporous ceramic matrix, and its use as a novel cesium sorbent material is reported in this paper. Complete removal of cesium was achieved in the presence of competing metal ions for solutions containing 2 ppm cesium under a variety conditions. Loading capacity of more than 1.35 mmol Cs per g of sorbent material has been achieved. The exceptionally fast binding kinetics and high loading capacity, resulting from the rigidly open pore structure and extremely high surface area of the sorbent materials, make them potentially very useful for the removal of cesium from nuclear wastes and contaminated groundwater.