Radionuclide Removal from Aqueous Solutions Using Oxidized Carbon Fabrics

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Radiochemistry

Background:

• Actinide ions like americium (Am(III)) and uranium (U(VI)) pose significant environmental risks in contaminated water.
• Developing efficient and cost-effective materials for actinide removal is crucial for environmental remediation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the adsorption of Am(III) and U(VI) onto pristine and oxidized carbon fabrics.
• To evaluate the influence of pH, temperature, and water matrix composition on adsorption efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Batch adsorption experiments were conducted at varying pH (4, 7, 9) and temperatures (25, 35, 45 °C).
• Adsorption kinetics and thermodynamic parameters were analyzed.
• The performance of carbon fabrics in simulated seawater was assessed.

Main Results:

• Carbon fabrics demonstrated high removal efficiencies for both Am(III) (70%) and U(VI) (100%) under optimal conditions.
• Uranium (U(VI)) exhibited higher distribution coefficients (log10(Kd) values 2-3) than americium (Am(III)) (log10(Kd) values 1.5-2).
• Adsorption is an endothermic, entropy-driven process that increases with temperature.

Conclusions:

• Carbon fabrics are effective adsorbents for Am(III) and U(VI) from aqueous solutions.
• While seawater matrix components reduce efficiency, carbon fabrics still show remarkable removal rates (50% Am(III), 90% U(VI)).
• These materials show promise for treating actinide-contaminated water.