Construction of an egg-like DTAB/SiO₂ composite for the enhanced removal of uranium

For the past few years, the environmental safety problems of radioactive nuclides caused wide public concern. In this work, the dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide-modified silicon dioxide composite (DTAB/SiO₂) was synthesized for the elimination of uranium. The dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide can decorate the surface of the silicon dioxide and change its surface topography, which can offer more active sites and functional groups for the combination of U(VI). The removal capacity of U(VI) on DTAB/SiO₂ reached 78.1 mg/g, which was greater than that of the silicon dioxide nanopowder. In the adsorption process, the surface oxygen-containing functional groups formed surface complexation with uranium. The results may provide helpful content to eliminate U(VI) and expand the application of surfactant in radioactive nuclide cleanup.