In
the present study, SWCNH–COOH and SWCNH–TETA were
fabricated using single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWCNHs) via carboxylation and grafting with triethylenetetramine (TETA) for
uranium (VI) ion [U(VI)] removal. The morpho-structural characterization
of as-prepared adsorbing materials was performed by transmission electron
microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy (XPS). Several parameters including the pH value of the
aqueous solutions, contact time, temperature, and U(VI) concentration
were used to evaluate the sorption efficiency of SWCNH–COOH
and SWCNH–TETA. The Langmuir isotherm model could well represent
the as-obtained adsorption isotherms, and the kinetics was successfully
modeled by pseudo-second-order kinetics in the adsorption process.
The maximum adsorption capacity of SWCNH–TETA was calculated
as 333.13 mg/g considering the Langmuir isotherm model. Thermodynamic
studies showed that adsorption proved to be a spontaneous endothermic
process. Moreover, SWCNH–TETA exhibited excellent recycling
performance and selective adsorption of uranium. Furthermore, the
possible mechanism was investigated by XPS and density functional
theory calculations, indicating that the excellent adsorption was
attributed to the cooperation capability between uranium ions and
nitrogen atoms in SWCNH–TETA. This efficient approach can provide
a strategy for developing high-performance adsorbents for U(VI) removal
from wastewater.