Graphene oxides for simultaneous highly efficient removal of trace level radionuclides from aqueous solutions

Graphene oxides (GOs) were synthesized via modified Hummers method, and were applied as adsorbents to remove radionuclides from large volumes of aqueous solutions. The single and competitive sorption of four radionuclides (i.e., U(VI), 152+154Eu(III), 85+89Sr(II) and 134Cs(I)) on the GOs from aqueous solutions were investigated as a function of pH, ionic strength and radionuclide initial concentrations using batch technique. The results showed that the GOs had much higher sorption capacity than many other contemporary materials, for the preconcentration of radionuclides from large volumes of aqueous solutions. The sorption of radionuclides on GOs obeyed the Langmuir model, and was mainly attributed to surface complexation via the coordination of radionuclides with the oxygen-containing functional groups on GO surfaces. The competitive sorption results indicated that the selectivity sorption capacities were U(VI)>Eu(III)>Sr(II)>Cs(I). The GOs are suitable materials for the efficient removal and preconcentration of radionuclides from aqueous solutions in nuclear waste management and environmental pollution cleanup.