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Graphical abstract Highlight • LDH@nZVI composite was prepared via a facile and green method. • Synergistic effects improved the capture ability for U(VI) on LDH@nZVI than single-guest. • O and Fe functional groups play an important role in the immobilization process of U(VI). • Interaction mechanism between U(VI) and LDH@nZVI was adsorption and reduction. Abstract In this study, nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) supported on layered double hydroxide (LDH) composite (LDH@nZVI) was prepared, characterized and applied to U(VI) scavenging in water. Removal of U(VI) as a function of pH, ionic strength, reaction time, initial concentrations of U(VI), and temperature were studied and compared with pure LDH and nZVI, the LDH@nZVI had best U(VI) removal efficiency owning to the excellent synergistic combination of LDH adsorption and nZVI reduction. XPS analysis found that surface oxygen functional groups and surface-bound Fe(II) played a critical role in U(VI) remediation. The large surface areas (334.0 m2/g), abundant functional groups (i.e., M O, C O and OH), rapid kinetics (adsorption equilibrium within 1 h) and excellent adsorption capacities (176 mg/g) indicating that LDH@nZVI can be considered as a potential material for preconcentration of U(VI) from sewage water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • CMN and CCMN were prepared via a single-step hydrothermal technique and calcination process. • The maximal removal capacities of U(VI) on CMN and CCMN were 585.6 and 973.7 mg/g, respectively. • Metal-oxygen functional groups played an important role in the elimination of U(VI). • Interaction mechanism was attributed to strong inner-surface complexation. Abstract Uranium is considered to be a strategic means for the nuclear power as well as a worldwide highly toxic pollutant. For the enhanced U(VI) elimination from wastewater, novel Co-Mo-Ni ternary hydroxide (CMN) and calcined CMN (CCMN) nanocomposites were prepared via a simplistic single-step hydrothermal technique and calcination process. The elimination process and adsorption property of U(VI) on CMN and CCMN were analysed by batch experiment as well as spectroscopy analysis, and the researches showed that U(VI) was formed stable and strong complexes with the surface groups of CMN and CCMN. The maximal removal capacities of U(VI) on CMN and CCMN amounted to be 585.6 and 973.7 mg/g at pH = 5.0 and T = 298 K, correspondingly, that exhibited competitiveness with the majority of the reported adsorbents. The U(VI) uptake was substantially impacted by the tested solution pH and not affected by the ionic strength, which revealed that the interaction mechanism was primarily inner-sphere surface complexation, which received further confirmation by the XPS analysis. Based on the above analyses, the facile synthesis process and excellent U(VI) elimination performance denoted that the ternary (hydr)oxide materials were applicable as an attractive adsorbent for the radionuclides preconcentration and removal from aqueous solutions in natural environmental management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uranium(VI) has become one of the most potential contaminants due to its productive and irreversibility impact on the surrounding environment. Titanate nanowires (TNWs) have attracted significant attention because of its high ion exchange ability and facile synthesis. Herein the TNWs were synthesized, and the morphology and structure of TNWs were investigated by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in detail. The application of TNWs in U(VI) removal was studied under various environmental conditions using batch technique, and the results indicated that the sorption of U(VI) on TNWs was strongly affected by pH and weakly affected by ionic strength. The presence of PO 4 3- and CO 3 2- could overwhelmingly influence U(VI) interaction with TNWs, which was mainly attributed to the formation of anionic and electro-neutral complexes. From the Langmuir model simulation, the maximum sorption capacities were calculated to be 358, 384, and 410 mg g −1 at the temperatures of 298 K, 313 K and 328 K, respectively. The thermodynamic results revealed that the interaction process was spontaneous and endothermic. The extraordinary ion exchange capacity and facile synthesis under mild conditions made TNWs promising materials for the potential application in the efficient elimination of U(VI) or other lanthanides and actinides from aqueous solutions in the environmental radioactive pollution cleanup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clay minerals have been studied extensively due to their strong sorption and complexation ability toward various environmental pollutants. In this study, the sorption of 90 Sr(II) on Na-montmorillonite was studied as a function of various environmental conditions such as pH, ionic strength, humic acid (HA) and temperature. The results indicated that the sorption of 90 Sr(II) on Na-montmorillonite was strongly dependent on pH and ionic strength. The experimental data of 90 Sr(II) sorption was simulated by the diffuse-layer model (DLM) well with the aid of Visual Minteq 3.0. At low pH, the sorption of 90 Sr(II) was dominated by outer-sphere surface complexation and ion exchange with Na + /H + on Na-montmorillonite surfaces, whereas inner-sphere surface complexation was the main sorption mechanism at high pH. The presence of HA enhanced 90 Sr(II) sorption at pH < 7.0 but decreased 90 Sr(II) sorption at pH > 7.0. Langmuir and Freundlich models were used to simulate the sorption isotherms of 90 Sr(II) at three different temperatures of 303, 318 and 333 K. The thermodynamic parameters (Δ H , Δ S and Δ G ) calculated from the temperature-dependent sorption isotherms indicated that the sorption of 90 Sr(II) on Na-montmorillonite was an endothermic and spontaneous process. The thermodynamic parameters calculated from temperature-dependent sorption data were crucial to understand the interaction behavior of 90 Sr(II) with Na-montmorillonite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrothermal technique and then modified with tetraethyl orthosilicate to form Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 nanospheres through Stöber method. The characterization results of X-ray diffraction, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and magnetic measurements evidenced the successful synthesis of Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 nanospheres. The as-prepared Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 was applied as adsorbent to remove congo red (CR) from aqueous solutions at different experimental conditions, and the results indicated that CR adsorption on Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 was strongly pH-dependent and weakly ionic strength-dependent at relative low pH values, indicating that the adsorption was mainly dominated by electrostatic interactions. The maximum adsorption capacities of CR on Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 were calculated to be 54.64 mg/g from Sips model and 50.54 mg/g from Langmuir model at T = 308 K and pH = 5.3. The thermodynamic parameters calculated from temperature-dependent isotherms indicated that the adsorption of CR on Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 was an spontaneous and endothermic process. The CR-adsorbed Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 nanospheres could be easily separated from aqueous solutions using magnetic separation technique within 40 s. These results suggested that the Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 nanospheres might be suitable materials for the efficient separation of dye pollutants from aqueous solutions in possible real applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI), which has great potential in environmental purification is introduced. However, NZVI is easy to accumulate and oxidize, which limits its ability to remove pollutants. Hence several modified NZVI are proposed to overcome its shortcomings in this paper. The heavy metal ions, radionuclides and organic pollutants in the environment are removal by NZVI based materials, and their removal behaviors had been analyzed. This paper also reviews the factors affecting the removal of pollutants by NZVI-based materials, such as pH, ionic strength, contact time, reaction temperature, interfering ions and humic acids. In addition, it is also introduced that NZVI is toxic in the environment, and it also can be recovered and has different removal effects in different water environment. In short, this paper gives a comprehensive summary of NZVI, including its modification methods, pollutants removal, influencing factors of pollutants removal and implication to environment. It provides a strong theoretical basis for the future development of NZVI based materials. [Display omitted] • The characteristics of NZVI-based materials are briefly introduced and summarized. • The removal mechanisms of different pollutants are highlighted. • The influence factors and environmental implications are analyzed. • Future researches of NZVI-based materials in water remediation are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Water stable Fe 3 O 4 @ZIF-8 was fabricated through a facile modification strategy. • Excellent structural performances endowed Fe 3 O 4 @ZIF-8 outstanding absorbability. • Multi-factors influence demonstrated the practical application potential. • The mechanisms were electrostatic attraction and inner-sphere surface complexation. • The excellent uptake capabilities made Fe 3 O 4 @ZIF-8 a promising adsorbent. The water stable core-shell microspheres (Fe 3 O 4 @ZIF-8) with strong magnetism were successfully fabricated through a facile modification strategy. Concrete procedures included firstly pretreatment of Fe 3 O 4 core with anionic polyelectrolyte to acquire negatively charged Fe 3 O 4 particle surface, followed by nucleation through attracting Zn2+ cation, and then growth of a thin layer of ZIF-8 (~25 nm). Various characterization techniques (SEM, TEM, FT-IR, XRD, VSM, BET and XPS) indicated that the Fe 3 O 4 @ZIF-8 microspheres were highly stable and magnetic with a large specific surface area (606.91 m2/g) and fairly sufficient functional groups (NH , OH, COOH, Zn O, N O and C N). Multi-factors affecting the radionuclides removal performance on Fe 3 O 4 @ZIF-8 was adequately explored, comprising contact time, temperature, pH, ionic strength, co-existing ions and extreme conditions. And the results showed that Fe 3 O 4 @ZIF-8 exhibited fast reaction kinetics (~30 min to achieve equilibrium), excellent uptake capabilities (539.7 mg U/g and 255.6 mg Eu/g), remarkable selectivity and favorable physicochemical stability. These researches suggested that Fe 3 O 4 @ZIF-8 could not only simultaneously achieve favorable stability and functionality, but also easily to be separated by external magnetic field after used in radioactive sewage treatment, which was of considerable practical utility in extracting radioactive wastes though in harsh circumstance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]