Thorium removal from acidic aqueous solutions by activated biochar derived from cactus fibers
Date
2016ISSN
1944-3994Source
Desalination and Water TreatmentVolume
57Issue
57Pages
27864-27868Google Scholar check
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The removal of thorium from acidic aqueous solutions (pH 3) by activated biochar fibers obtained from Opuntia Ficus Indica has been investigated by batch experiments as a function of the initial metal concentration, ionic strength, temperature, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Activated biochar fibers demonstrated increased adsorption capacity for Th(IV) even in acidic solutions (qmax = 81 g kg−1), due to the formation of inner-sphere thorium complexes with the surface carboxylic moieties, indicating that the activated biochar fibers could be applied successfully for the removal of tetravalent metal ions from industrial process and wastewaters. © 2016 Balaban Desalination Publications. All rights reserved.