CTAB modified metakaolin-based geopolymer microspheres for the selective adsorption and recovery of TcO4−/ReO4−

Abstract

With the increase of radioactive wastewater, it is a major challenge to efficient removal of TcO4− from radioactive wastewater. So far, cationic metal organic frameworks (MOFs), cationic covalent organic frameworks (COFs), cationic polymeric networks (CPNs) and porous organic polymer materials (POPs) can remove TcO4− efficiently, but the cumbersome preparation process and high cost limit their practical applications. Herein, an efficient and low-cost CTAB-modified metakaolin-based geopolymer microspheres (CTAB@MGMs) with excellent adsorption properties for ReO4− is simply and rapidly synthesized by dispersion-pelletizing-solidification and vacuum infusion methods. CTAB@MGMs has fast adsorption kinetics (equilibrium in 10 min), a wide pH application range (2–10) and high selectivity in competing ions (PO43−, SO42−, NO3−, Cl−) and real waters (tap water, surface water, seawater). Importantly, complete desorption of the adsorbed sample can be realized by ethanol and MGMs can be recycled without performance decay. Meanwhile, ethanol recycling was achieved by spin-evaporation of desorption solution and a novel compound CTA-ReO4 was generated. We have analyzed and reported the crystal structure of CTA-ReO4 (CCDC Numbers: 2282273) for the first time and revealed the mechanism that ReO4− is removed by electrostatic and coordination synergism with quaternary ammonium salts after ion exchange. CTAB@MGMs is a low-cost, novel and reusable adsorbent with potential use for the removal of TcO4− from radioactive wastewater.