The effect of surface properties on the uranium adsorption by mesoporous ceria

Abstract

CeO2 solids of different surface areas have been prepared by a sol–gel method using Triton X-100. The samples have then characterized by N2 adsorption, XRD, SEM microscopy and FTIR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the effect of the surface area on the U(VI) adsorption was investigated by batch-type experiments and evaluated by correlating the surface parameters with the corresponding maximum adsorption capacity values (0.108 < qmax < 0.162 mg g−1). The adsorption of U(VI) by CeO2 is well described by the Langmuir isotherm model indicating simple interaction between the U(VI) ions and the surface hydroxyl groups.