Preparation of zero-valent iron-nickle bimetallic composite for Se(IV) adsorption from aqueous solution

79 Se is one of the important radionuclides in the safety evaluation of high-level radioactive waste repository due to its long half-life and highly fissionable radioactivity. Nanoscale zero valent iron-nickel bimetallic composite (Fe 0 /Ni 0 ) was fabricated by liquid phase reduction method for Se(IV) adsorption from aqueous solution. The effects of pH, solid–liquid ratio, time, temperature, initial concentration of Se(IV) on the adsorption of Se(IV) by Fe 0 /Ni 0 were investigated. Fe 0 /Ni 0 was characterized by SEM, XPS, XRD, FT-IR, BET and Zeta potential, and the mechanism of removing Se(IV) was analyzed. The results showed that Fe 0 /Ni 0 had a good removal effect on Se(IV). When pH was 3.5, the solid–liquid ratio was 0.3 g L −1 , the reaction time was 40 min, the maximum adsorption capacity of Se(IV) by Fe 0 /Ni 0 could reach 180 mg g −1 . The research results can provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of wastewater containing Se(IV).