Economic and Efficient phosphonic functional groups mesoporous silica for uranium selective adsorption from aqueous
H Sarafraz1, Gh Alahyarizadeh2, A Minuchehr1
1Engineering Department, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., P.O. Box 1983969411, Tehran, Iran.
Scientific Reports
|July 6, 2019
Summary
A novel silica adsorbent with phosphonic functional groups efficiently removes uranium (U(VI)) from water. This cost-effective material shows high capacity and selectivity, making it ideal for industrial wastewater and seawater applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Environmental Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
Background:
- Uranium contamination in aqueous solutions poses environmental and health risks.
- Development of efficient and selective adsorbents for uranium removal is crucial.
- Existing methods often involve costly or hazardous silane agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize a novel, cost-effective mesoporous silica adsorbent for selective uranium (U(VI)) adsorption.
- To evaluate the adsorbent's performance characteristics: availability, economics, efficiency, and selectivity.
- To demonstrate the adsorbent's applicability in complex aqueous environments.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of mesoporous silica with enhanced phosphonic functional groups (PFGs) using the Sol-Gel technique without silane agents.
- Characterization of the adsorbent's properties and performance.
- Uranium adsorption experiments in aqueous solutions, including competitive ion studies.
Main Results:
- Achieved a high uranium adsorption capacity (qe) of 820.7 mg/g at pH ≈ 8.
- Demonstrated excellent selectivity for U(VI) in the presence of various competing ions (Mg, Cd, Hg, As, Ca, Na, Ni) and high chloride concentrations.
- Significantly reduced synthesis costs from 222.787 EUR/kg to 60.078 EUR/kg compared to template methods.
Conclusions:
- The developed mesoporous silica adsorbent is a highly efficient and selective material for uranium removal from aqueous solutions.
- Its cost-effectiveness and performance in complex matrices make it a promising alternative for environmental remediation.
- Eliminating silane agents and utilizing low-cost precursors contribute to a sustainable and economical synthesis process.
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