A Critical Review of the Removal of Radionuclides from Wastewater Employing Activated Carbon as an Adsorbent

Abstract

Radionuclide-contaminated water is carcinogenic and poses numerous severe health risks and environmental dangers. The activated carbon (AC)-based adsorption technique has great potential for treating radionuclide-contaminated water due to its simple design, high efficiency, wide pH range, quickness, low cost and environmental friendliness. This critical review first provides a brief overview of the concerned radionuclides with their associated health hazards as well as different removal techniques and their efficacy of removing them. Following this overview, this study summarizes the surface characteristics and adsorption capabilities of AC derived from different biomass precursors. It compares the adsorption performance of AC to other adsorbents, such as zeolite, graphene, carbon nano-tubes and metal–organic frameworks. Furthermore, this study highlights the different factors that influence the physical characteristics of AC and adsorption capacity, including contact time, solution pH, initial concentration of radionuclides, the initial dosage of the adsorbent, and adsorption temperature. The theoretical models of adsorption isotherm and kinetics, along with their fitting parameter values for AC/radionuclide pairs, are also reviewed. Finally, the modification procedures of pristine AC, factors determining AC characteristics and the impact of modifying agents on the adsorption ability of AC are elucidated in this study; therefore, further research and development can be promoted for designing a highly efficient and practical adsorption-based radionuclide removal system.

Extremely efficient aerogels of graphene oxide/graphene oxide nanoribbons/sodium alginate for uranium removal from wastewater solution

“…Due to adsorption's cheap cost, high effectiveness, and abundance of adsorbents, it is often employed to remove radionuclides from wastewater 4 , 5 .…”

First Report on a 1-Cycle Solid-Phase Extraction Method for Selective Separation of Am3+ and Eu3+: Use of BTP-Grafted Silica Decorated on Activated Carbon

“…A large number of reports on solid absorbents using alumina, zeolites, polymers, impregnated resins, silica, magnetic nanomaterials, and carbon-based materials (graphene oxide, CNT, and activated carbon) have appeared in the literature. − Activated carbon (AC) is a popular choice of absorbent among all those commonly used owing to its high surface area, porous structure, nontoxic nature, low cost, adsorption capacity, surface reactivity, thermal as well as chemical stability, and unlimited availability of natural carbon sources (agricultural waste). − Conceivably, the chemical modification of AC materials is an adaptable method to enhance their selectivity toward specific analytes. − Most frequently, –OH, –CHO, –COOH, and –COOR groups are utilized in the modification procedures.…”

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

“…Numerous organic and inorganic materials including graphene, carbon nanotubes, activated carbon, metal organic frameworks, 10,11 polymers, 12 MXenes, 13 and their derivatives are utilized as effective adsorbents for water treatment research 9,14 . These adsorbents present both some advantages and disadvantages 10 . Therefore, there is still an increasing need and interest in development of these kind of effective adsorbent materials.…”

“…9 Amongst them, adsorption is a commonly preferred technique for water purification due to its high selectivity, ease of use, adaptability, recyclability, and environmental safety. 1,6 Numerous organic and inorganic materials including graphene, carbon nanotubes, activated carbon, metal organic frameworks, 10,11 polymers, 12 MXenes, 13 and their derivatives are utilized as effective adsorbents for water treatment research. 9,14 These adsorbents present both some advantages and disadvantages.…”

“…9,14 These adsorbents present both some advantages and disadvantages. 10 Therefore, there is still an increasing need and interest in development of these kind of effective adsorbent materials.…”