Selective biosorption of thorium (IV) from aqueous solutions by ginkgo leaf

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193659
• Publication Date: 2018-03-06T13:28:31Z
• Authors: Yaoyao Huang; Yang Hu; Lvcun Chen; Tao Yang; Hanfang Huang; Runping Shi; Peng Lu; Chenghua Zhong
• Keywords: Biosorption; Langmuir adsorption model

Low–cost biosorbents (ginkgo leaf, osmanthus banyan magnolia holly walnut shell, and grapefruit peel) were evaluated in the simultaneous removal of La3+, Ce3+, Pr3+, Nd3+, Sm3+, Eu3+, Gd3+, Yb3+, Lu3+, UO22+, Th4+, Y3+, Co2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Sr2+ from aqueous solutions. In single metal systems, all adsorbents exhibited good to excellent adsorption capacities toward lanthanides actinides. a simulated multicomponent mixed solution study, higher selectivity efficiency observed for Th4+ over other cations, with ginkgo leaves providing highest adsorptivity (81.2%) among seven biosorbents. Through optimization studies, biosorption on leaf was found be highly pH–dependent, optimum at pH 4. proceed rapidly an equilibrium time 120 min conform pseudo–second–order kinetics. The Langmuir isotherm model best described biosorption, maximum monolayer capacity 103.8 mg g–1. Thermodynamic calculations indicated that spontaneous endothermic. Furthermore, physical chemical properties adsorbent determined by scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared analysis. Th real sample (monazite mineral) studied 90.4% achieved nitric acid 4 using leaves.