Rational design phosphorylation Mg-Fe layered dioxides nanosheets for efficient capture of uranium from wastewater

Abstract

As the nuclear industry boomed, lots of uranium has entered the water environment and caused great damage to ecological environment. Designing and preparing efficient uranium adsorption materials is essential to solve the problem. Phosphorylated Mg-Fe layered dioxides (P-MF LDOs) nanosheets with a favorable memory effect were prepared by calcination and in-situ phosphorylation for uranium extraction from wastewater (UEW). The unique phosphating method resulted in a uniform distribution of phosphate functional groups in the surface of LDOs, which gave it great ability for capture of uranium. The adsorption capacity of P-MF LDOs was 2.31 times that of pure MF LDOs. According to the Langmuir model, the theoretical extraction capacity of P-MF LDOs was as high as 909.09 mg g−1, which was significantly higher than that of similar sorbents. Additionally, it exhibited excellent anti-interference ability. The results of the adsorption mechanism study revealed that the binding modes included surface complexation, mineralization reaction, dissolution-precipitation, and memory effect. In conclusion, P-MF LDOs represent a type of highly efficient uranium adsorbent with simple preparation and high adsorption capacity for UEW. This study provides new insights into the development of inorganic clay-based uranium adsorbents.