Arsenazo-functionalized magnetic carbon composite for uranium(VI) removal from aqueous solution

In this work, arsenazo III (ASA) was grafted onto the surface of Fe3O4@C core shell during plasma discharging process. The synthetic Fe3O4@C@ASA composites presented excellent adsorption ability and capacity for trace U(VI) in aqueous solution, especially at low pH range. Batch experiments showed that organic maters and coexisting ions will not bring obvious influence on U(VI) uptake. The maximum adsorption capacity of U(VI) on Fe3O4@C@ASA at pH 4.0 achieved to 46.2 mg/g. Moreover, Fe3O4@C@ASA also presented excellent regeneration-reuse properties. In real application, >99% uranium in the high salinity Gasikule Salt Lake brine was recovered by Fe3O4@C@ASA. Combining the excellent sorption performance and magnetic properties, the synthetic Fe3O4@C@ASA is proved to be a suitable material for extracting U(VI) from salt lake water or acidic waste water. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.