Preparation of titanate nanoflower for sorption of ⁷⁵Se(IV) radioisotope from aqueous solution: Equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies

Abstract

In this study, the adsorptive removal of selenium (IV) from aqueous solution by titanate nanoflower (TNF) was prepared via alkaline hydrothermal method. The morphology and crystal phase of the TNF were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDX), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and specific surface area. This study was conducted to determine the influence of various operating parameters such as pH, adsorbate weight, initial anion concentration, contact time and solution temperature on the adsorptive removal of selenium (IV). Equilibrium adsorption data were analyzed using Freundlich, Langmuir and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm models. The results demonstrated that the adsorption was well described by the Langmuir adsorption isotherm with the maximum adsorption capacity up to 46.52 mg/g at pH 3.5. The adsorption of Se(IV) anions onto the surface of TNF may proceed through outer sphere electrostatic interactions and/or inner-sphere complexation interaction. The kinetic data indicated that the adsorption fit well with the pseudosecond-order kinetic model. The thermodynamic parameters implied that the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic in nature.