Abstract
The preparation of highly efficient and low-cost activated carbon from sawdust was achieved for the treatment of uranium-contaminated groundwater. The adsorption properties of the synthesized activated carbon, as well as their ability to be reused, were assessed. The obtained results demonstrated that sawdust activated carbon (SDAC) and its amine form (SDACA) had high affinity towards uranium ions at pH values of 4.5 and 5 for SDAC and SDACA, respectively. The experimental results showed that the maximum adsorption capacity of uranium was 57.34 and 76.7 mg/g for SDAC and SDACA, respectively. A maximum removal efficiency of 89.72% by SDAC and 99.55% by SDACA were obtained at a solid/liquid ratio of 8 mg/mL. The removal mechanism of uranium by SDAC and SDACA was suggested due to interaction with the amine and carboxylic groups. The validation of the method was verified through uranium separation from synthetic as well as from groundwater collected from water wells in the Wadi Naseib area, Southwestern Sinai, Egypt.
Highlights
Freshwater resources are mainly represented by surface and groundwater bodies, and both are environmentally interrelated
Synthesis of activated carbon from the sawdust sawdust activated carbon (SDAC) and its modified form Sawdust activated carbon/TEPE (SDACA) was illustrated in Scheme 1
The infrared spectrum of SDAC and SDACA showed shifts in the characteristic bands of (C=C), (O-H), (NH2), (C=C) and (C-C) to a lower or higher value compared to the spectrum of the uranium-loaded SDAC and SDACA adsorbents
Summary
Freshwater resources are mainly represented by surface and groundwater bodies, and both are environmentally interrelated. Several techniques are used for removal of uranium and trace metals from water, e.g., biotechnology (including agricultural wastes), solvent extraction, coagulation, reduction, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, flocculation, electrochemical and adsorption [8,9,10,11,12,13]. Most of these techniques have some difficulties such as incomplete metal removal (poor efficiency), high reagent and energy requirements, and large quantities of resulting wastes that are difficult to dispose of, as well as the generation of toxic waste products. Batch studies were conducted and the parameters of uranium initial concentration, pH and contact time were studied to achieve the optimum conditions
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