Novel magnetic graphene oxide composite material as a solid-phase adsorbent for uranium removal

In IGCAR, we developed a GO-magnetite composite (MGO) adsorbent to separate uranium from the natural water bodies, such as seawater, uranium contaminated mine water, etc. Magnetite based adsorbents facilitate faster physical separation of the adsorbent phase from the aqueous phase. Contrast to the normal adsorbents, magnetite adsorbents are prepared with a view to achieve the faster separation under the influence of an external magnetic field. The lightweight properties limiting the scope of GO separation could be conveniently overcome by magnetic support (Fe₃O₄). The MGO proposed in this report is unique among the previously reported ones in that, the adsorption of uranium on the MGO was facilitated by the –COOH functionalities on MGO itself, without the need of employing any other external ligand. In short, the present study will provide a preliminary understanding of how Hummers' oxidation can tune GO to create adsorption functionalities for uranium