Investigation of removal of U(Vi) from aqueous solutions by organo-montmorillonite supported iron nanoparticles

Abstract

A new class of nanoscale zero-valent iron particles supported on natural montmorillonite and organo-montmorillonite were synthesized and the feasibility for the removal of U(VI) was examined through laboratory batch test. Batch experiments indicated that the reduction of both U(VI) was much greater with organo-montmorillonite supported iron nanoparticles reaching removal rate up to 98.5% respectively at the initial metal concentrations of 10 mg/L. The obtained data have given the opportunity to figure out the mechanisms of U(VI) removal which may thus promote the industrial application of nZVI technique in environmental remediation by changing the hydrophilic – hydrophobic properties of source systems.