Phosphorylated hollow carbon-based material derived from ZIF-8 and its U(VI) adsorptive performance

Inspired by its large specific surface area, and tunable chemical and physical properties, a hollow carbon-based mater8ial derived from ZIF-8 with phosphate groups (HCM-PO₄) was prepared for the elimination of U(VI). The structural and surface features of HCM and HCM-PO₄ were thoroughly examined using techniques such as SEM, TEM, and XRD. The resulting carbon material, HCM-PO₄, exhibits a higher BET surface area of 571.2 m²·g^-1, featuring a hollow structure. The removal procedure of HCM-PO₄ for U(VI) aligns with the quasi-secondary kinetic model. Furthermore, the theoretical sorption capacity of HCM-PO₄ was found to be 482.30 mg·g^-1 at 298.15 K. The results obtained from XPS, FT-IR, and EDS analysis of HCM-PO₄ after adsorption revealed the coordination of the phosphate group for U(VI), contributing significantly to the adsorption process. In brief, the HCM-PO₄ demonstrates excellent adsorptive ability, positioning it as a hopeful expectant to remove U(VI) from wastewater.