Sorption of uranium(VI) by La-Al-carboxymethyl konjac glucomannan microsphere sorbent

The microsphere of carboxymethyl konjac glucomannan immobilizing La3+ and Al3+ (CMKGM-La-Al) has been explored for sorption of U(VI). The maximum U(VI) sorption capacity of the microsphere is found to be 45.4 mg g(-1) at pH 5. Experimental data are fitted well with the linear Langmuir and linear pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The sorption process is endothermic, spontaneous and favorable. The possible mechanism of CMKGM modification and sorption of U(VI) on CMKGM-La-Al involves ion exchange and coordination reaction. The comparison between CMKGM-La-Al and other sorbents suggests that CMKGM-La-Al can be considered as an effective sorbent for U(VI) sorption.