Treatment of Uranium-Contaminated Ground Water Using Adsorption Technology via Novel Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles

Contamination of underground water by uranium (U) and other heavy metals is a growing concern. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have shown great potential as an adsorbent material for heavy metal removal. This study synthesized a novel MSN using surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) and evaluated its effectiveness for removing uranium from aqueous solutions under different conditions. The particle size was reduced to 150-240 nm to enhance adsorption. Fourier transform infrared characterization and thermogravimetric analysis confirmed successful synthesis and modification. Results showed that the MSN adsorbent was highly effective in removing U, with a removal rate of 85.35% at 120 min. Temperature had a significant impact, with the highest removal rate of 96.7% achieved at 25 °C and a U concentration of 10 ppm. The highest removal rate of 91.89% was achieved at a pH of 6 and a U concentration of 50 ppm. The highest removal rate of 95.16% was achieved at 25 mg and a U concentration of 50 ppm at room temperature for 60 min. The MSNs also showed a 58.27% removal rate in a mixture solution at room temperature for 60 min. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the MSN adsorbent for removing U under different conditions.