Removal of uranium(VI) from aqueous solutions by CMK-3 and its polymer composite

The ability of PANI–CMK-3 composite (PANI–CMK-3) by in site polymerizing aniline onto the surface of mesoporous carbon (CMK-3) has been explored for the removal and recovery of uranium from aqueous solutions. The results of FTIR, SEM, TG/DTA and N2 adsorption–desorption demonstrated that aniline was successfully polymerized onto the inside and outside surface of CMK-3 rather than occupying the mesopore. The U(VI) sorption on PANI–CMK-3 was well fitted to the Langmuir adsorption isothermal and pseudo-second kinetics models. The monolayer maximum capacity of PANI–CMK-3 was improved from 50.12 mg g−1 of CMK-3 to 118.30 mg g−1 at 298 K due to the imine and amine groups in PANI. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔH, ΔS and ΔG) showed the U(VI) adsorption on CMK-3–PANI and CMK-3 were all endothermic and spontaneous in nature. Selective adsorption experiments (co-existing ions, Na+, Mg2+, Zn2+, Mn2+, Ni2+ and Sr2+) show that the selectivity of CMK-3 was enhanced after aniline polymerization. Moreover, the U(VI) adsorbed on the surface of PANI–CMK-3 can be eluated by 1.0 mol L−1 HCl solution with high desorption rate of 98%.