Highly efficient uranium capture from wastewater by hydroxyapatite aerogels prepared with konjac gum as template

HAP aerogels with higher adsorption speed and capacity were synthesized through a combination of freezedrying and template way using konjac gum (KGM) as template. Among them, B-HAP (HAP aerogel prepared with 0.25 g KGM as template) showed better micromorphology and structure, leading to more available sites on B-HAP, which was beneficial for the immobilization of uranium. The removal efficiency of uranium by B-HAP was 99.4% within 10 min and the maximum removal capacity was up to 2055.2 mg g(-1), which was larger than other reported adsorbents. Pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models were better fitted with the adsorption behavior on HAP aerogels, indicating that uranium ions were immobilized on HAP aerogels via chemical adsorption. B-HAP also showed high selectivity, stability and durability, which was expected to be a feasible candidate for the extraction of uranium from wastewater.

Automated summary

HAP aerogels with higher adsorption speed and capacity were successfully synthesized using konjac gum as a template through a combination of freeze-drying and template methods. Of these, B-HAP aerogel prepared with 0.25 g konjac gum as a template showed better micro morphology and structure, resulting in more available sites for uranium immobilization. B-HAP demonstrated a uranium removal efficiency of 99.4% within 10 min and a maximum removal capacity of 2055.2 mg g(-1), surpassing other reported adsorbents. The adsorption behavior on HAP aerogels was best described by the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models, suggesting that uranium ions were immobilized on HAP aerogels via chemical adsorption. B-HAP also exhibited high selectivity, stability, and durability, making it a promising candidate for uranium extraction from wastewater.