Highly stable Prussian blue nanoparticles containing graphene oxide–chitosan matrix for selective radioactive cesium removal

• Published in: Materials letters Vol. 241; pp. 194 - 197
• Main Authors: Rethinasabapathy, Muruganantham, Kang, Sung-Min, Lee, Ilsong, Lee, Go-Woon, Lee, Sunmook, Roh, Changhyun, Huh, Yun Suk
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.04.2019; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Adsorption; Cesium adsorption; Cesium ions; Cesium selectivity; Chelation; Chitosan; Face centered cubic lattice; Functional groups; Graphene; Hazards; Materials science; Nanoparticles; Organic-inorganic hybrids; Pigments; Prussian blue; Pseudo-second order; Radiation hazards; Selectivity; Synergistic effect; Cesium adsorption; Prussian blue; Organic-inorganic hybrids; Pseudo-second order; Cesium selectivity
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2019.01.070

[Display omitted] •Low-cost organic-inorganic hybrid adsorbent for the selective removal of radioactive Cs.•Exhibit high cesium (Cs) adsorption capacity of 48.35 mg g−1.•Confer high structural stability due to strong electrostatic interaction between GO and CS.•Excellent selectivity for Cs as the hydration radius of Cs matches with the void size of the PB lattice.•Easy recovery of PB after Cs adsorption by immobilizing it with GO/CS matrix. In this work, a Prussian blue (PB)/graphene oxide (GO)/chitosan (CS) organic-inorganic composite was successfully synthesized and utilized as an adsorbent for the selective removal of cesium (Cs+) ions. Taking the advantage of synergistic effect GO, CS and PB nanoparticles, the PB/GO/CS composite exhibited maximum adsorption capacity of 48.35 mg g−1 for Cs+ ions. In the presence of competitive monovalent cations (K+ and Na+), PB/GO/CS showed excellent selectivity (86%) for Cs+ ions and had a 6-fold higher distribution coefficient (Kd) than GO/CS. This enhanced adsorption capacity with high selectivity of PB/GO/CS for Cs+ ions may have been attributed to (i) the presence of carboxylic, hydroxyl and amino functional groups on GO/CS matrix which strongly bind Cs+ ions through electrostatic attraction and chelation, and (ii) the trapping of Cs+ ions by the voids of the FCC-structured PB lattice whose size is equivalent to the hydration radius of Cs+ ions. Due to its low-cost, facile preparation, high adsorption capacity, and superior Cs+ ions selectivity, PB/GO/CS is a promising material for the selective removal of the Cs+ ions from the environment and for protecting ecosystems from the radiation hazards.