Batch studies on uranium uptake by CeO2 nanoparticles from its aqueous solution

Uranium is a radioactive heavy metal, whose presence in groundwater is harmful to human health and the environment. Thus, the special attention is focused on technologies that separate uranium from different water sources. CeO2 were synthesized by employing a solution combustion process to remove U (VI) ions from an aqueous medium. The material characterisation revealed face-centred cubic phase of CeO2 with a space group of Fm3m, with porous shape of surface area 65.581 m2/g and 7.28 nm of pore diameter. Optimised batch experiments were carried out by varying the contact time (0-90 min), pH of the solution (2-9), and concentration of U (VI) from 100 to 500 mu g/L at room temperature. The maximum removal of U (VI) ions under the specified conditions was found to be significant using CeO2 (>= 90 %). Maximum U (VI) adsorption was observed at contact time of 70 min, pH between 6 and 7 with 100 mu g/L of U (VI) aqueous solution for a 0.01 g/L of nanoadsorbent dosage. The Langmuir isotherm, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 1294.02 mu g/g, was found to best fit the adsorption process. As per the kinetic studies, it illustrated that the adsorption process followed a pseudo-secondorder model with an adsorption capacity of 1000 mu g/g.