Studies on the adsorption behavior of uranium onto a synthesized hybrid material based on the spherical SBA-15 and tin tungstomolybdophosphate

In the present work, a hybrid material, as an adsorbent based on a mesoporous silica nanoparticle Sainta Barbara Amorphous-15 (SBA-15) and inorganic adsorbent, tin tungsto-molybdo-phosphate (TWMP), was synthesized for the investigation of adsorption behavior of uranium in aqueous solution under ambient conditions. The synthesized hybrid was characterized by the X-ray diffraction, Fourier transfer infra-red, thermogravimetry, and N2 adsorption-desorption analysis. The obtained results confirm that TWMP has been immobilized on SBA-15 very well. Furthermore, the experimental results show that uranium adsorption on the hybrid is strongly influenced by the hydronium ion concentration, contact time, and initial concentration of uranium. The values of the calculated correlation coefficients of the linear regressions (R2) indicate that, the adsorption data are fitted by the Langmuir isotherm model very well. The obtained amount of RL (0.1) shows that the adsorption process is favorable. The amount of E obtained by the Dubinin-Radushkevich model, suggests that the predominant reaction mechanism is a physisorption process. Kinetic data of adsorption indicate that the adsorption process can be described by the pseudo second-order reaction rate model. Finally, the obtained maximum adsorption capacity of uranium (193.6 mg.g-1) on hybrid, indicates that the prepared material is a perfect candidate for the adsorption and removal of the uranium from wastewater.