Fabrication of oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes for the immobilization of U(VI) from aqueous solutions

Abstract

Herein, the surface properties of oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNs) were characterized by adopting XRD, SEM and FTIR. The sorption behaviors of U(VI) from wastewater by oxidized MWCNs were investigated by adopting batch technique. The experimental results demonstrated that sorption behaviors of U(VI) on oxidized MWCNs were dependent on ionic strength at low pH, and independent of ionic strength at high pH. The ion exchange and outer-sphere surface complexation were main mechanism for sorption of U(VI) on oxidized MWCNs at low pH, whereas inner-sphere surface complexation and coinstantaneous co-precipitation were primary mechanism at high pH.