Macroscopic and Microscopic Investigation of U(VI) and Eu(III) Adsorption on Carbonaceous Nanofibers

The adsorption mechanism of U(VI) and Eu(III) on carbonaceous nanofibers (CNFs) was investigated using batch, IR, XPS, XANES, and EXAFS techniques. The pH-dependent adsorption indicated that the adsorption of U(VI) on the CNFs was significantly higher than the adsorption of Eu(III) at pH < 7.0. The maximum adsorption capacity of the CNFs calculated from the Langmuir model at pH 4.5 and 298 K for U(VI) and Eu(III) were 125 and 91 mg/g, respectively. The CNFs displayed good recyclability and recoverability by regeneration experiments. Based on XPS and XANES analyses, the enrichment of U(VI) and Eu(III) was attributed to the abundant adsorption sites (e.g., OH and COOH groups) of the CNFs. IR analysis further demonstrated that COOH groups were more responsible for U(VI) adsorption. In addition, the remarkable reducing agents of the R-CH2-OH groups were responsible for the highly efficient adsorption of U(VI) on the CNFs. The adsorption mechanism of U(VI) on the CNFs at pH 4.5 was shifted from inner- to outer-sphere surface complexation with increasing initial concentration, whereas the surface (co)precipitate (i.e., schoepite) was observed at pH 7.0 by EXAFS spectra. The findings presented herein play an important sole in the removal of radionuclides on inexpensive and available carbon-based nanoparticles in environmental cleanup applications.