Abstract
Cu2O exhibits excellent adsorption performance for the removal of I− anions from solutions by doping of metallic Ag or Cu. However, the adsorption process only appears on the surface of adsorbents. To further improve the utilization efficiencies of Cu content of adsorbents in the uptake process of I− anions, hollow spheres of metallic Cu, Cu/Cu2O composite and pure Cu2O were prepared by a facile solvothermal method. Samples were characterized and employed for the uptake of I− anions under various experimental conditions. The results show that Cu content can be tuned by adjusting reaction time. After the core was hollowed out, the uptake capacity of the samples increased sharply, and was proportional to the Cu content. Moreover, the optimal uptake was reached within only few hours. Furthermore, the uptake mechanism is proposed by characterization and analysis of the composites after uptake. Cu-based adsorbents have higher uptake performance when solutions are exposed to air, which further verified the proposed uptake mechanism. Finally, hollow Cu-based adsorbents exhibit excellent selectivity for I− anions in the presence of large concentrations of competitive anions, such as Cl−, SO42− and NO3−, and function well in an acidic or neutral environment. Therefore, this study is expected to promote the development of Cu-based adsorbents into a highly efficient adsorbent for the removal of iodide from solutions.
Highlights
In many developing countries, including China, rapid growth in demand has given rise to power shortages
Hollow spheres of metallic Cu, Cu/Cu2 O composite and pure Cu2 O were prepared by a facile solvothermal method
X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses revealed that the Cu content of all samples can be tailored by the reaction time
Summary
In many developing countries, including China, rapid growth in demand has given rise to power shortages. The major source of energy is still coal, and constitutes about 75% of all energy sources, and the reliance on fossil fuels has generated many air pollutants [1,2]. The World Bank (2007) estimated that the total health cost associated with outdoor air pollution in urban areas of. China in 2003 was between 157 and 520 billion China Yuan, accounting for 1.2–3.3% of China’s gross domestic product [2]. Nuclear power, a kind of green energy, has been a priority of the Chinese government [3]. The Energy Development Strategy Action Plan (2014–2020) noted that China’s operational nuclear installed capacity could reach 58,000 MWe in 2020, with 30,000 MWe more under construction [4]. As inevitable products of nuclear fission, radioactive iodine species can dissolve into solutions. The half-life of radioactive iodine differs from about 8 days (131 I) to
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