Organo-bentonite-Fe3O4 poly(sodium acrylate) magnetic superabsorbent nanocomposite: Synthesis, characterization, and Thorium(IV) adsorption.

Abstract: Novel magnetic organo-bentonite-Fe3O4 poly(sodium acrylate) (OB-Fe3O4 PSA) superabsorbent nanocomposites were synthesized in aqueous solution through the copolymerization of partially neutralized acrylic acid (SA) on OB-Fe3O4 nanoparticle by using N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide as crosslinker and ammonium persulfate as initiator. This new superabsorbent was characterized by FTIR, TGA, FE-SEM and XRD. Its iron content and magnetic properties were studied by using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) and a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), respectively. The water retention test of OB-Fe3O4 PSA was also performed. The introduced OB-Fe3O4 could form a loose and coarse surface and improve the water absorbency of OB-Fe3O4 PSA superabsorbent. The effects of pH, ionic strength, and humic substances (HS) on the adsorption of Th(IV) were investigated in detail through batch experiments. The maximum adsorption capacity (Qmax ) of Th(IV) on OB-Fe3O4 PSA 3.6 superabsorbent at pH 3.0±0.05 and T=298K was about 6.55mmol/g, higher than any value previously reported. The thermodynamic parameters calculated from temperature-dependent adsorption isotherms suggested that Th(IV) adsorption on OB-Fe3O4 PSA superabsorbent was an endothermic and spontaneous process. Furthermore, OB-Fe3O4 PSA superabsorbent could be regenerated through the desorption of Th(IV) using 0.1mol/L HCl solution and the adsorption capacity was still higher than 3.6mmol/g after five consecutive adsorption–desorption processes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]