In situ preparation of magnetic chitosan resins functionalized with triethylene-tetramine for the adsorption of uranyl(II) ions

The magnetic chitosan resins functionalized with triethylene-tetramine (TETA-MCR) were in situ prepared for the adsorption of uranyl(II) ions from aqueous solution. FTIR analysis indicated that the amine groups of TETA-MCR were the main adsorption sites for complex formation. The adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic in nature and kinetically followed pseudo-second-order model. The equilibrium data were correlated with Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin models, and the maximum monolayer adsorption capacity obtained from the Langmuir model was 166.6 mg/g at 293 K. The TETA-MCR exhibited some excellent characteristics such as high adsorption capacity, fast adsorption kinetic, easy of magnetic separation and good reusability, and thus could be potentially used as a novel magnetic sorbent for actinide separation.