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Trimethylphenylammonium-modified montmorillonite: efficient hybrid adsorbent for removal of U(VI) from carbonate- and sulfate-containing solutions

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Abstract

Montmorillonite (MMT) clay was modified using the hydrothermal method through the intercalation and adsorption of the trimethylphenylammonium bromide (TMPA) and applied for the removal of U(VI) from the carbonate- and sulfate-containing solutions using batch experiments. The hydrothermal technique provides a simple, fast, and efficient route for the successful preparation of TMPA-MMT. The prepared adsorbent was characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, and TGA techniques. The increasing interlayer space of MMT from 1.20 to 2.02 nm occurs as a result of TMPA intercalation. The modification of MMT by a TMPA surfactant enhanced adsorption capacity of U(VI) species from sulfate- and carbonate-containing solutions over a wide range of pH. The highest capacity for adsorption of U(VI)-carbonate and U(VI)-sulfate complexes was around 38 and 26 mg/g, respectively. The outer-sphere surface complexation is probably dominant mechanism in adsorption of anionic uranyl carbonate and sulfate species. These findings proposed that TMPA-MMT can be applied as an efficient and potential adsorbent for the removal of uranyl anionic species from carbonate- and sulfate-containing aqueous solutions.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the technical assistance of faculty staff in Tarbiat Modares University and Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), Iran.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, 111-14115, Iran

    H. Seddighi, A. K. Darban & J. Koleini

  2. Materials and Nuclear Fuel Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Tehran, 14155-1339, Iran

    A. Khanchi & J. Fasihi

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  1. H. Seddighi
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  2. A. K. Darban
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  3. A. Khanchi
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  4. J. Fasihi
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Correspondence to A. K. Darban.

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Editorial responsibility: M. Abbaspour.

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Seddighi, H., Darban, A.K., Khanchi, A. et al. Trimethylphenylammonium-modified montmorillonite: efficient hybrid adsorbent for removal of U(VI) from carbonate- and sulfate-containing solutions. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 16, 1921–1932 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-017-1617-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-017-1617-3

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