Efficient removal of uranium from groundwater by phosphorylated chitosan-supported nano iron composites

In this study, a new type of phosphorylated chitosan-supported nano iron (CSP/Fe⁰) composite material. CSP/Fe⁰ had a high adsorption rate (99.25%) and a maximum adsorption capacity (627.34 mg g^-1) when the conditions were pH = 6, 308.15 K and 12 h. CSP/Fe⁰ had a specific surface area of CSP/Fe⁰ was 6.02 m² g^-1, and has a mesoporous structure with more active sites (average pore size is 9.67 nm). The primary mechanism may be the complexation of U(VI) with abundant -OH, -NH₂, P=O on the surface of the material and the reduction of nanoscale zero-valent iron. Therefore, it is indicated that the material has good potential in remediation of uranium-contaminated groundwater environment. (author)