Separation of Cesium Using Magnetic Copper Hexacyanoferrate/Biochar/Fe3O4

In this study, a novel cesium scavenger, magnetic copper hexacyanoferrate (III)/pomelo peel biochar (CuHCF-MPC), is prepared. CuHCF-MPC exhibits remarkable Cs+ adsorption properties including rapid kinetics, stability over a wide pH range (pH approximate to 3-10), high cesium adsorption capacity (145.65 mg g(-1) at pH 7), high removal efficiency (>90%) and high K-d value (49 000 mL g(-1)) even in the presence of competitive cations (K+, Na+, Mg2+, and Ca2+) at high concentration. The kinetic behavior of cesium adsorption onto CuHCF-MPC can be elucidated with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption is classified as an endothermic and spontaneous process as proved by Delta H < 0, Delta G < 0. The positive results suggest CuHCF-MPC is an economic, environment-friendly, and promising task-specific adsorbent of cesium.