Synthesis and characterization of multi-carboxyl functionalized nanocellulose/graphene oxide-zinc oxide composite for the adsorption of uranium (VI) from aqueous solutions: Kinetic and equilibrium profiles

The present study is the preparation of the novel adsorbent, multi-carboxyl-functionalized Nanocellulose/Graphene Oxide-Zinc Oxide composite for the removal of Uranium. Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) studies have helped to characterize the composite. In this work the Nanocellulose/Graphene Oxide-Zinc Oxide composite were synthesized to compare the selective adsorption behavior for hazardous metal ion such as Uranium ions. From the adsorption studies, it would be clear that Nanocellulose/Graphene Oxide-Zinc Oxide composite exhibited much higher adsorption performance than individual Nanocellulose (NC) and Graphene Oxide-Zinc Oxide (ZnO-GO). The kinetic data followed the pseudo-second-order model. The equilibrium attained at 120 min and isotherm follows the order Sips > Langmuir > Freundlich. The adsorbed Uranium is desorbed using 0.1 M HCl. The adsorption-desorption studies conducted over 6 cycles illustrate the viability and repeated use of the adsorbent for the removal of Uranium from aqueous solutions. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.