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Fe3O4-modified sewage sludge biochar for U(VI) removal from aqueous solution: performance and mechanism

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Abstract

Sewage sludge-derived biochar (SSB) was prepared at 600 °C pyrolysis temperature and modified by co-precipitation with Fe3O4 to obtain Fe3O4@SSB. The adsorption process of U(VI) onto the Fe3O4@SSB was accurately described by the pseudo-second order and Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum removal capacity of U(VI) was 149.15 mg/g at 303 K and initial pH of 4.0 by Langmuir isotherm model analysis. The removal mechanisms included complexation, ion exchange, reduction and electrostatic attraction. The U(VI) removal efficiency by Fe3O4@SSB remained above 90% after five adsorption–desorption. This work provided a reference for sewage sludge resource utilization and biochar modification for uranium-containing wastewater treatment.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported the Open Funding for Innovation Platform of Education Department in Hunan Province (19K081) and Research Program for Young Backbone Scholar in Hunan Province (XJT[2018]574). The authors thank the permissions from Hengyang Water Group for providing sewage sludge to prepare the biochar in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse Technology, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China

    Guanhai Mo, Qing Hu, Guohua Wang, Shuibo Xie, Haidu Nong, Xiaoling Zhang & Taotao Zeng

  2. Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China

    Shuibo Xie

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  1. Guanhai Mo
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Mo, G., Hu, Q., Wang, G. et al. Fe3O4-modified sewage sludge biochar for U(VI) removal from aqueous solution: performance and mechanism. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 329, 225–237 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-07782-0

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