Cellulose acetate assisted synthesis of worm-shaped mesopores of MgP ion-exchanger for cesium ions removal from seawater

• Published in: Microporous and mesoporous materials Vol. 265; pp. 211 - 218
• Main Authors: Tag El-Din, Ali F., El-Khouly, Mohamed E., Elshehy, Emad A., Atia, Asem A., El-Said, Waleed A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 15-07-2018
• Subjects: Cesium removal; Ion exchange; Magnesium phosphate; Mesoporous materials; Radioactive wastes; Cesium removal; Radioactive wastes; Mesoporous materials; Ion exchange; Magnesium phosphate
• ISSN: 1387-1811; 1873-3093
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micromeso.2018.02.014

In this paper, we designed a novel meso-sorbent (MgP-MS) based on the worm-shaped mesoporous magnesium phosphate nanoparticles that enabled the selective sequestering of extremely radioactive cesium ions from seawater. The chemical and textural features of the meso-sorbent were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), nitrogen adsorption, scanning electron microscope (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and thermal analysis. The fabricated MgP-MS showed an excellent ability to remove cesium from aqueous solutions at a maximum adsorption capacity of 64 mg g−1 at 25 °C through an ion exchange mechanism. The adsorption was found to follow the pseudo-second-order kinetics with the intraparticle diffusion as the rate determining step. Based on our results, this new meso-sorbent exhibits a long-term stability, extraordinary sensitivity, selectivity, reusability, and fast kinetic capturing/trapping and of Cs(I) ions from aqueous synthetic solutions as well as from seawater.
Mesoporous MgP ion-exchanger has designed as efficient meso-sorbent based on the cellulose acetate as sacrificed template for selective cesium recovery from seawater samples. The meso-sorbent showed evidence of highly selective, and sensitive capture of Cs(I) down to sub-nanomolar concentrations. [Display omitted]
•A hand-operating and easy-to-make synthesis of high surface area mesoporous MgP nano-carriers was achieved.•We designed a fabrication method for cylindrical efficient meso-sorbent based on the cellulose acetate as sacrificed template.•The meso-sorbent showed evidence of highly selective, and sensitive capture of Cs(I) down to sub-nanomolar concentrations.•The removal systems showed functionality in terms of reversibility and selectivity.•Ultra-fast and specific removal of Cs(I) from seawater was evident.