Carboxymethyl cellulose supported magnetic graphene oxide composites by plasma induced technique and their highly efficient removal of uranium ions

Abstract: In recent years, hazardous radionuclides and heavy metal ions contaminations in wastewaters have caused serious harm to the public and environment. Thus the application of remediation technology is more challenging. Herein, carboxymethyl cellulose supported magnetic graphene oxide composites (CMC/MGOs) are successfully synthesized using novel low temperature plasma technique. The SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR, TGA and Raman spectra analysis can provide favorable evidence for the successful addition of CMC onto MGOs composite surfaces. The kinetics and isotherms of sorption of U(VI) onto CMC/MGOs composites can be excellently simulated by the pseudo-second-order kinetics model and the Langmuir model, respectively. The maximum capacity of CMC/MGOs composites for U(VI) calculated from the Langmuir model at pH 5.5 and 301 K is 7.94 × 10⁻⁴ mol/g. The experimental data indicate that uranium ions can interact with CMC/MGOs through inner-sphere surface complexation over the entire range of pH values. The experimental results suggest that CMC/MGOs composites can be regarded as potential adsorbent to remove uranium ions from wastewater systems. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].