Investigation of uranium (VI) adsorption by poly(dopamine) functionalized waste paper derived carbon

Waste paper derived carbon coated with poly(dopamine) (WPC@PDA) as a novel adsorbent was synthesized successfully by activation of KOH and carbonization of waste A4 paper, followed by in situ polymerization of dopamine. WPC@PDA composites possessed a 3D hierarchically interconnected porous structure and the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area is calculated to be 364.6 m(2)/g. The enrichment of uranium for WPC@PDA composites from not only aqueous solution (mg/L) but also simulated seawater (g/L) was fully evaluated under different scenarios. The experimental results indicated the maximum absorption capacity to uranium (VI) of WPC@PDA composites was 384.6 mg/g at pH 7. In addition, the distribution coefficient (k(d)) of U (VI) ion with other competing ions for WPC@PDA composites is 1.97 x 10(4) mg/L and demonstrated excellent selectivity to uranium (VI) in simulated seawater, which augurs well for the application of the adsorbent in seawater. (C) 2018 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.