Promising Enhancement in the Removal of Uranium Ions by Surface-Modified Activated Carbons: Kinetic and Equilibrium Studies
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 144, Issue 5
Abstract
Two activated carbons (ac) were prepared by achieving nitric acid oxidation (ox-ac) and iron chloride impregnation (Fe-ac) in order to remove uranium (VI) ions from aqueous solutions. The porosity of the adsorbents was evaluated using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) technique, where Infrared (IR) spectroscopy and Boehm’s titration were applied to analyze the surface functional groups of the samples. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were used to identify the structural characteristics of the tested materials. The uranium adsorption of the materials was evaluated in batch experiments. Influencing adsorption factors were investigated. According to this research’s results, it is found that iron-impregnated activated carbon (Fe-ac) presents an excellent adsorption capability for uranium removal compared to acid-treated activated carbon (ox-ac). The uptake capacity is enhanced by 300.32% for Fe-ac, whereas it is only 51.52% for ox-ac. It can be concluded that the uranium adsorption capacity is mainly related to the surface functional groups and the amount of oxygen at the surface of the adsorbents.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Adhoum, N., and Monser, L. (2002). “Removal of cyanide from aqueous solution using impregnated activated carbon.” Chem. Eng. Process., 41(1), 17–21.
Adhoum, N., and Monser, L. (2004). “Removal of phthalate on modified activated carbon: Application to the treatment of industrial wastewater.” Sep. Purif. Technol., 38(3), 233–239.
Afkhami, A., Madrakian, T., Karimi, Z., and Amini, A. (2007). “Effect of treatment of carbon cloth with sodium hydroxide solution on its adsorption capacity for the adsorption of some cations.” Colloid Surface A, 304(1–3), 36–40.
Ahn, C. K., Park, D., Woo, S. H., and Park, J. M. (2009). “Removal of cationic heavy metal from aqueous solution by activated carbon impregnated with anionic surfactants.” J. Hazard. Mater., 164(2–3), 1130–1136.
Akyil, S., Aslani, M. A. A., and Aytaş, S. (1998). “Distribution of uranium on zeolite X and investigation of thermodynamic parameters for this system.” J. Alloys Compd., 271, 769–773.
Asaoka, S., and Yamamoto, T. (2010). “Characteristics of phosphate adsorption onto granulated coal ash in seawater.” Mar. Pollut. Bull., 60(8), 1188–1192.
Balachandran, M. (2004). “Studies on magnetic iron oxide loaded activated carbon.” Ph.D. thesis, Cochin Univ. of Science and Technology, Kochi, India.
Banerjee, D., Sarkar, U., and Chakraborty, S. (2014). “Removal of a cationic bisbiguanide using functionalized activated carbons (FACs).” Process Saf. Environ. Prot., 92(6), 957–972.
Bansal, R. C., Donnet, J. B., and Stoeckli, H. F. (1988). Active carbon, Marcel Dekker, New York.
Barkat, M., Nibou, D., Amokrane, S., Chegrouche, S., and Mellah, A. (2015). “Uranium (VI) adsorption on synthesized 4A and P1 zeolites: Equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies.” C. R. Chim., 18(3), 261–269.
Bhatnagar, A., Hogland, W., Marques, M., and Sillanpaa, M. (2013). “An overview of the modification methods of activated carbon for its water treatment applications.” Chem. Eng. J., 219, 499–511.
Biniak, S., Pakula, M., Szymanski, G. S., and Swiatkowski, A. (1999). “Effect of activated carbon surface oxygen and/or nitrogen-containing groups on adsorption of copper (II) ions from aqueous solution.” Langmuir, 15(18), 6117–6122.
Chegrouche, S., Mellah, A., and Barkat, M. (2009). “Removal of strontium from aqueous solutions by adsorption onto activated carbon: Kinetic and thermodynamic studies.” Desalination, 235(1–3), 306–318.
Chen, J. P., and Wu, S. (2004). “Acid/base-treated activated carbons: Characterization of functional groups and metal adsorptive properties.” Langmuir, 20(6), 2233–2242.
Chingombe, P., Saha, B., and Wakeman, R. J. (2005). “Surface modification and characterization of a coal-based activated carbon.” Carbon, 43(15), 3132–3143.
Cornell, R. M., and Schwertmann, U. (1996). The iron oxides, Weinheim, New York.
Daifullah, A. A. M., Yakout, S. M., and Elreefy, S. A. (2007). “Adsorption of fluoride in aqueous solutions using KMnO4-modified activated carbon derived from steam pyrolysis of rice straw.” J. Hazard. Mater., 147(1–2), 633–643.
Daud, W. M. A. W., and Houshamnd, A. H. (2010). “Textural characteristics, surface chemistry and oxidation of activated carbon.” J. Nat. Gas Chem., 19(3), 267–279.
Debasree, B., Ujjaini, S., and Sayantani, C. (2014). “Removal of a cationic bisbiguanide using functionalized activated carbon (FACs).” Process Saf. Environ. Prot., 92(6), 957–972.
El-Hendawy, A. A. (2003). “Influence of oxidation on the structure and adsorptive properties of corncob-based activated carbon.” Carbon, 41(4), 713–722.
Goertzen, S. L., Theriault, K. D., Oickle, A. M., Tarasuk, A. C., and Andreas, H. A. (2010). “Standardization of the Boehm titration. I: expulsion and endpoint determination.” Carbon, 48(4), 1252–1261.
Gokce, Y., and Aktas, Z. (2014). “Nitric acid modification of activated carbon produced from waste tea and adsorption of methylene blue and phenol.” Appl. Surf. Sci., 313, 352–359.
Hameed, B. H. (2009). “Evaluation of papaya seeds as a novel non-conventional low-cost adsorbent for removal of methylene blue.” J. Hazard. Mater., 162(2–3), 939–944.
Ho, Y. S., and McKay, G. (1999). “Pseudo-second order model for sorption processes.” Process. Biochem., 34(5), 451–465.
Ishii, M., and Nakahira, M. (1972). “Infrared absorption spectra and cation distribution in .” Solid State Commun., 11(1), 209–212.
Jia, Y. F., Xiao, B., and Thomas, K. M. (2002). “Adsorption of metal ions on nitrogen surface functional groups in activated carbons.” Langmuir, 18(2), 470–478.
Jiang, Y., Xie, Q., Zhang, T., Yao, X., Liang, Y., and Qian, W. (2011). “A novel preparation of magnetic granular activated carbon with developed mesopores and macropores.” 5th Int. Conf. on Bioinformatics and Biomedical Engineering, IEEE, Piscataway, NJ.
Kannan, N., and Sundaram, M. M. (2001). “Kinetics and mechanism of removal of methylene blue by adsorption on various carbons—A comparative study.” Dyes Pigm., 51(1), 25–40.
Kutics, K., and Suzuki, M. (1990). “Adsorption of organics on surface modified activated carbon fibers.” 2nd Korea–Japan Symp. on Separation Technology, Society of Separation Process Engineers, Tokyo, 395.
Kwon, J. H., Wilson, L. D., and Sammynaiken, R. (2014). “Synthesis and characterization of magnetite and activated carbon binary composites.” Synth. Met., 197, 8–17.
Lagergren, S. (1898). “Zur theorie der sogenannten adsorption geloster stoffe.” Handl., 24(4), 1–39 (in German).
Li, G. Y., Jiang, Y. R., Huang, K. L., Ding, P., and Yao, L. L. (2008). “Kinetics of adsorption of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mandelated dehydrogenase on magnetic -chitosan nanoparticles.” Colloids Surf. A, 320(1–3), 11–18.
Lisovskii, A., Semiat, R., and Aharoni, C. (1997). “Adsorption of sulfur dioxide by active carbon treated by nitric acid. I: Effect of the treatment on adsorption of SO and extractability of the acid formed.” Carbon, 35(10–11), 1639–1643.
Lu, X., Jiang, J., Sun, K., Xie, X., and Hu, Y. (2012). “Surface modification, characterization and adsorptive properties of a coconut activated carbon.” Appl. Surf. Sci., 258(20), 8247–8252.
Malik, D. J., Strelko, V., Streat, M., and Puziy, A. M. (2002). “Characterization of novel modified active carbons and marine algal biomass for the selective adsorption of lead.” Water Res., 36(6), 1527–1538.
Mattson, J. S., and Mark, H. B. (1971). Activated carbon: Surface chemistry and adsorption from solution, Marcel Dekker, New York.
Mellah, A., Chegrouche, S., and Barkat, M. (2006). “The removal of uranium (VI) from aqueous solutions onto activated carbon: Kinetic and thermodynamic investigations.” J. Colloid Interface Sci., 296(2), 434–441.
Miyanaga, S., Hiwara, A., and Yasuda, H. (2002). “Preparation and high bacteriostatic action of the activated carbons possessing ultrafine silver particles.” Sci. Technol. Adv. Mat., 3(2), 103–109.
Moreno-Castilla, C., Ferro-Garcia, M. A., Joly, J. P., Bautista-Toledo, I., Carrasco-Marin, F., and Rivera-Utrilla, J. (1995). “Activated carbon surface modifications by nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide and ammonium peroxydisulfate treatments.” Langmuir, 11(11), 4386–4392.
Moussavi, G., and Khosravi, R. (2010). “Removal of cyanide from wastewater by adsorption onto pistachio hull wastes: Parametric experiments, kinetics and equilibrium analysis.” J. Hazard. Mater. 183(1–3), 724–730.
Nasrazadani, S., and Raman, A. (1993). “Application of IR spectra to study the rust systems.” Corros. Sci., 34(8), 1355–1365.
Nibou, D., Khemaissia, S., Amokrane, S., Barkat, M., Chegrouche, S., and Mellah, A. (2011). “Removal of onto synthetic NaA zeolite. Characterization, equilibrium and kinetic studies.” Chem. Eng. J., 172(1), 296–305.
Nur, T., Loganathan, P., Nguyen, T. C., Vigneswaran, S., Sing, G., and Kandasamy, J. (2014). “Batch and column adsorption and desorption of fluoride using hydrous ferric oxide: Solution chemistry and modeling.” Chem. Eng. J., 247, 93–102.
Parab, H., Joshi, S., Shenoy, N., Verma, R., Lali, A., and Sudersanan, M. (2005). “Uranium removal from aqueous solution by coir pith: Equilibrium and kinetic studies.” Bioresour. Technol., 96(11), 1241–1248.
Pereira, M. F. R., Soares, S. F., and MÓrfão, J. J. (2003). “Adsorption of dyes on activated carbons: Influence of surface chemical groups.” Carbon, 41(4), 811–821.
Rahmati, A., Ghaemi, A., and Samadfam, M. (2012). “Kinetic and thermodynamic studies of uranium (VI) adsorption using Amberlite IRA-910 resin.” Ann. Nucl. Energy, 39(1), 42–48.
Saha, B., Tai, M. H., and Streat, M. (2001). “Metal sorption performance of an activated carbon after oxidation and subsequent treatment.” Process Saf. Environ. Prot., 79(6), 345–351.
Sahu, J. N., Acharya, J., and Meikap, B. C. (2010). “Optimization of production conditions for activated carbons from tamarind wood by zinc chloride using response surface methodology.” Biosource Technol., 101(6), 1974–1982.
San Miguel, G., Lambert, S. D., and Graham, N. J. D. (2006). “A practical review of the performance of organic and inorganic adsorbents for the treatment of contaminated waters.” J. Chem. Technol. Biotechnol., 81(10), 1685–1696.
Savvin, S. B. (1961). “Analytical use of Arsenazo III: Determination of thorium, zirconium, uranium and rare earth elements.” Talanta, 8(9), 673–685.
Shim, J. W., Park, S. J., and Ryu, S. K. (2001). “Effect of modification with and NaOH on metal adsorption by pitch-based activated carbon fibers.” Carbon, 39(11), 1635–1642.
Singh, K. P., Gupta, S., Singh, A. K., and Sinha, S. (2011). “Optimizing adsorption of crystal violet dye from water by magnetic nanocomposite using response surface modeling approach.” J. Hazard. Mater., 186(2–3), 1462–1473.
Singha, S., Sarkar, U., and Luharuka, P. (2013). “Functionalized granular activated carbon and surface complexation with chromates and bi-chromates in wastewater.” Sci. Total Environ., 447, 472–487.
Somdutta, S., Ujjaini, S., and Pallavi, L. (2013). “Functionalized granular activated carbon and surface complexation with chromates and bi-chromates in wastewater.” Sci. Total Environ., 447, 472–487.
Song, X., Liu, H., Cheng, L., and Qu, Y. (2010). “Surface modification of coconut-based activated carbon by liquid-phase oxidation and its effects on lead ion adsorption.” Desalination, 255(1–3), 78–83.
Soudani, N., Souissi-najar, S., and Ouederni, A. (2013). “Influence of nitric acid concentration on characteristics of olive stone based activated carbon.” Chin. J. Chem. Eng., 21(12), 1425–1430.
Tchomgui-Kamga, E., Alonzo, V., Nanseu-Njiki, C. P., Audebrand, N., Ngameni, E., and Darchen, A. (2010). “Preparation and characterization of charcoals that contain dispersed aluminum oxide as adsorbents for removal of fluoride from drinking water.” Carbon, 48(2), 333–343.
Vaughan, R. L., Jr., and Reed, B. E. (2005). “Modeling As(V) removal by a iron oxide impregnated activated carbon using the surface complexation approach.” Water Res., 39(6), 1005–1014.
Wang, G., Wang, X., Chai, X., Liu, J., and Deng, N. (2010). “Adsorption of uranium (VI) from aqueous solution on calcined and acid-activated kaolin.” Appl. Clay Sci., 47(3–4), 448–451.
Wang, S. B., and Lu, G. Q. (1998). “Effects of acidic treatments on the pore and surface properties of Ni catalyst supported on activated carbon.” Carbon, 36(3), 283–292.
Xiao, B., and Thomas, K. M. (2005). “Adsorption of aqueous metal ions on oxygen and nitrogen functionalized nano porous activated carbons.” Langmuir, 21(9), 3892–3902.
Xu, T., and Liu, X. Q. (2008). “Peanut shell activated carbon: Characterization, surface modification and adsorption of from aqueous solution.” Chin. J. Chem. Eng., 16(3), 401–406.
Yang, N., Zhu, S., Zhang, D., and Xu, S. (2008). “Synthesis and properties of magnetic - activated carbon nanocomposite particles for dye removal.” Mater. Lett., 62(4–5), 645–647.
Yeddou, A. R., et al. (2011). “Removal of cyanide in aqueous solution by oxidation with hydrogen peroxide in presence of copper-impregnated activated carbon.” Miner. Eng., 24(8), 788–793.
Yin, C. Y., Aroua, M. K., and Daud, W. M. A. W. (2007). “Review of modification of activated carbon for enhancing contaminant uptakes from aqueous solutions.” Sep. Purif. Technol., 52(3), 403–415.
Yürüm, A., Kocabaş-Ataklı, Z. Ö., Sezen, M., Semiat, R., and Yürüm, Y. (2014). “Fast deposition of porous iron oxide on activated carbon by microwave heating and arsenic (V) removal from water.” Chem. Eng. J., 242, 321–332.
Yusan, S., and Akyil, S. (2008). “Sorption of uranium (VI) from aqueous solutions by akaganeite.” J. Hazard. Mater., 160(2–3), 388–395.
Zach-Maor, A., Semiat, R., and Shemer, H. (2011). “Synthesis, performance, and modeling of immobilized nano-sized magnetite layer for phosphate removal.” J. Colloid Interface Sci., 357(2), 440–446.
Zhang, B., Zhang, C., and Wei, M. (2014). “Influence of the surface and structural characteristics of activated carbons on adsorptive removal of halo-olefinic impurities from 1, 1, 1, 3, 3-pentafluoropropane.” Chin. J. Chem. Eng., 22(9), 974–979.
Zhao, B., et al. (2007). “Iron oxide (III) nanoparticles fabricated by electron beam irradiation method.” Mater. Sci.-Poland, 25(4), 1143–1148.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 144 • Issue 5 • May 2018
Copyright
©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 5, 2017
Accepted: Sep 27, 2017
Published online: Mar 8, 2018
Published in print: May 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Aug 8, 2018
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.