Separation Science and Technology, Vol.53, No.15, 2486-2499, 2018
Application of magnetic polyaniline nanocomposite for separation of uranyl ions from aqueous solutions
Polyaniline (PANI) was synthesized chemically, and then modified with magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs). PANI and PANI-Fe3O4 NPs were used for removal of uranyl ions (UO22+) from aqueous solutions using a batch system. The synthesized adsorbents were characterized using FT-IR, SEM, BET and XRD techniques. From isotherm investigation, the maximum adsorption capacities (q(m)) were 150.0 and 108.0 mg g(-1) for PANI and PANI-Fe(3)O(4)NPs, respectively. The kinetics and equilibrium adsorptions were well-described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir model, respectively. Thermodynamic studies depicted that the adsorption of uranyl ions by PANI is a spontaneous exothermic process and in the case of PANI-Fe3O4 NPs, adsorption process is endothermic; therefore, the spontaneity is controlled by entropy.