Adsorption of uranium (VI) from aqueous solutions using boron nitride/polyindole composite adsorbent

Turbostratic boron nitride (tBN) surface is modified with polyindole (PIn) by a facile polymerization technique and the uranyl adsorption efficiency of this mesoporous hybrid is investigated. The successful surface modification is confirmed by FT-IR, Raman, XRD, TEM, SEM, EDX, EDS mapping XPS, BET, and zeta potential techniques. The batch experiments are performed in various temperatures (T), contact times (t), pH, and initial solution concentrations (C-0) to evaluate its adsorption performance. The optimum adsorption performance is achieved at pH = 5.0-5.5, T = 307 K, t = 10 min, C-0 = 18 mg L-1. These experimental results are evaluated using Freundlich, Redlich-Peterson, and Langmuir isotherm models, which presents equivalent regression coefficients. Maximum adsorption capacity (q(m)) of the nanoadsorbent (tBN/PIn), determined by the Langmuir isotherm, is 315.29 mg g(-1). The adsorption kinetics of uranyl ions on tBN/PIn are in harmony with the pseudo-second order model. tBN/PIn nanoadsorbent provides high adsorption efficiency even at exceptionally low UO22+ concentration range (4-40 mg L-1) and low adsorbent mass (0.005 g). XPS analysis results show that 0.05% of uranium is adsorbed on tBN/PIn via mainly U-O coordination. The results of present study demonstrate that tBN/PIn can a potential adsorbent for removing uranium from aqueous solutions.