Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Chitosan/Graphene Oxide/Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) Aerogel Nanocomposite for High Efficiency Uranium (VI) Removal from Wastewaters

The toxic and the hazardous ramifications that affect both the environment and human beings due to the existence of uranium in wastewater are a huge challenge towards a sustainable environment. Uranium removal from wastewater is a big difficulty that is becoming more severe as the world’s population grows and energy demand rises. A hydrothermal and freeze-drying process is used to create a chitosan/graphene oxide/poly (vinyl alcohol) aerogel (CH/GO/PVA) for a very effective and selective uranium removal. Batch experiments were used to examine hexavalent uranium (VI) sorption from wastewater. The efficiency of U (VI) removal was investigated for time of contact, various pH, dosage of sorbent, initial concentration of U (VI), and temperature values. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller are utilized to describe the composition, morphology, polymer formation and nanocomposites. Kinetic and Freundlich equations, and the pseudo-second-order are used to illustrate the adsorption process. The adsorption capacity of U (VI) reaches its maximum of 1247 mg g–1 when an initial uranium concentration is 380 mg L–1, and the highest uranium removal efficiency is 98.44%. Thermodynamic study reveals an endothermic and spontaneous adsorption mechanism. Furthermore, the as-synthesized GO/CS/PVA aerogel has good mechanical as well as thermal stability, and can be utilized six times before losing a substantial portion of its original removing effectiveness.