Title: Equilibrium adsorption isotherm of U(VI) at pH 4 and pH 5 onto synthetic magnetite nanoparticles

Authors: Roberto Leal, Mitiko Yamaura

Addresses: Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares, IPEN – CNEN/SP, Av. Professor Lineu Prestes 2242, 05508-000 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. ' Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares, IPEN – CNEN/SP, Av. Professor Lineu Prestes 2242, 05508-000 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil

Abstract: The adsorption features of synthetic magnetite nanoparticles have been investigated for removal of uranyl ions from nitric solutions. These magnetic nanoparticles can be used to adsorb contaminants in wastewater and can subsequently be removed from the medium by a magnetic process because of their superparamagnetic behaviour. The magnetite nanoparticles were synthesised by simultaneous precipitating of Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions in a NaOH solution. Batch experiments were carried out to investigate the adsorption of UO₂²⁺ ions from nitric solution, pH 4 and 5, onto magnetic nanoparticles. Two minutes of application of a magnetic field were sufficient for removing the magnetite nanoparticles from the liquid medium. Equilibrium adsorption isotherm was evaluated using Freundlich and Langmuir models. The adsorption was between 40% and 80% under conditions studied.

Keywords: magnetite nanoparticles; uranyl ions; adsorption isotherms; superparamagnetic behaviour; magnetic separation; wastewater treatment; uranium; uranyl ion removal; nanotechnology; environmental pollution; alternative process; Langmuir; Freundlich; modelling; magnetic nanoparticles; radioactive wastewater.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNEST.2011.039242

International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, 2011 Vol.6 No.1, pp.1 - 7

Published online: 14 Feb 2015 *

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