Adsorptive extraction of uranium (VI) from seawater using dihydroimidazole functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Abstract The adsorptive extraction of uranium (VI) was investigated using multiwalled carbon nanotubes functionalized with dihydroimidazole (DIM-MWCNTs). Dihydroimidazole was grafted onto the surface of MWCNTs via silane coupling agent, N-(3-triethoxysilylpropyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazole. The new adsorbent was characterized using Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscope and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. DIM-MWCNTs were compared with MWCNTs and amidoxime modified MWCNTs (AO-MWCNTs) for uranium adsorption under seawater conditions. The adsorption capacity of uranium onto DIM-MWCNTs was 54.9 mg g−1 at 298 K, which was about 4 times of MWCNTs and similar to that of AO-MWCNTs. Compared with AO-MWCNTs, DIM-MWCNTs were more suitable for seawater pH, and less affected by vanadium. Although DIM-MWCNTs were more affected by carbonate than AO-MWCNTs, DIM-MWCNTs maintained a higher adsorption capacity than AO-MWCNTs due to its alkali resistance. Pyridine-like nitrogen (CH=N–CH) contributed to the adsorption of uranium. The results suggested that DIM-MWCNTs were a potential effective adsorbent for the separation of uranium under seawater condition.