Sorption of 243Am(III) to Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes have attracted great interest in multidisciplinary study since their discovery. Herein, radionuclide ²⁴³Am(III) sorption to uncapped multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was carried out at 20 ± 2 °C in 0.01 and 0.1 M NaClO₄ solutions. Effects of ²⁴³Am(III) solution concentration, ionic strength, and pH on ²⁴³Am(III) sorption to MWCNTs were also investigated. The sorption is strongly dependent on pH values and weakly dependent on the ionic strength in the experimental conditions. The results show that MWCNTs can adsorb ²⁴³Am(III) with extraordinarily high efficiency by forming very stable complexes. Chemisorption or chemicomplexation is the main mechanism of ²⁴³Am(III) sorption on the surface of MWCNTs. MWCNTs can be a promising candidate for the preconcentration and solidification of ²⁴³Am(III) or its analogue lanthanides and actinides from large volumes of aqueous solution, as required for remediation purposes, and perhaps also as a sorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions from the industry wastewater.