Radon Adsorption Performance of Metal-Loaded Bamboo Activated Carbons with Different Pore Structures

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Radiological Protection

Background:

• Radon (Rn) is a radioactive gas and a primary cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
• Effective radon adsorbents are crucial for public health and radiation safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a highly efficient radon adsorbent using modified bamboo activated carbon with metal loading.
• To optimize pore structure and metal loading for enhanced radon adsorption capacity.

Main Methods:

• Bamboo activated carbon (BC) was modified via alkali treatment and loaded with silver (Ag) and nickel (Ni) metals.
• Characterization of pore structure and metal loading effects on radon adsorption.
• Evaluation of adsorption capacity, regeneration efficiency, and stability.

Main Results:

• Nickel and silver loading significantly improved radon adsorption on alkali-modified bamboo carbon (BCK1.5).
• The Ni_0.3@BCK1.5 adsorbent achieved a high adsorption coefficient of 11.36 ± 0.21 L/g.
• The adsorbent demonstrated excellent regeneration stability, retaining over 92% of its capacity after five cycles.

Conclusions:

• The developed Ni_0.3@BCK1.5 adsorbent offers a promising solution for radon removal due to its high capacity and reusability.
• Combining tailored pore structures with metal sites is an effective strategy for enhancing radon adsorbent performance.