Synthesis and Characterization of Zeolite–AMO Hybrid Composite Adsorbent by Using Simultaneous Gamma Irradiation for Uranium (VI) Removal from Aqueous Solutions

Abstract

AbstractThe material of organic–inorganic hybrid polymers combine the functional organic and the advantages of a thermally stable and robust inorganic substrate, resulting in strong binding affinities toward selected metal ions and relatively high metal ion adsorption capacities. The aim of this work is to synthesize the polymer‐inorganic hybrid composite adsorbent base on amidoxime zeolite (zeolite–AMO) using simultaneous radiation technique; to characterize the adsorbent using FTIR and zeta potential; and to test the adsorption capacity of adsorbent for uranium (VI) using batch adsorption test in aqueous system. The solvent system of acrylonitrile monomer is water emulsion, with the concentration of 30%. The irradiation dose is 100 kGy with the dose rate of 2 kGy h−1. The hydroxylamine solution with the concentration of 6% in a mixture of water–methanol with ratio of 1:1 at 80 °C for 3 hours of reaction time uses for the amidoximation process. The result shows that the highest degree of grafting is 20.31%. Furthermore, the amidoxime density is 5.82 mmol g−1 and the optimum pH is 5.9. The sorption process follows the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model and fits with the Freundlich model analysis.