Removal of trace thorium(IV) from aqueous solutions using a pseudo-polyrotaxane

Abstract

Abstract The adsorption of thorium(IV) was studied using a pseudo-polyrotaxane, which was obtained by the reaction of poly(propyleneglycol) (PPG) and 6-OTs-β-CD. The adsorption of thorium(IV) was examined as a function of the contact time, pH of the solution, adsorbent dose, concentration of thorium(IV) and temperature using batch adsorption experiments. The experimental results suggested that the optimum conditions were found to be at pH 3.5, contact time 40 min, 10 mg adsorbent doses, 20 mg L−1 thorium(IV) concentration and 298 K. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 15.366 mg g−1. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔG 0<0, ΔH 0<0) were calculated, the result showed that the adsorption of thorium(IV) was exothermic and spontaneous process.