Honeycomb-like macroporous crosslinked chitosan assisted EDTA-intercalated Ca-Mg-Al layered hydrotalcite composite foams for efficient U(VI) biosorption.

The biosorption is considered to be highly efficient for the separation of radionuclide from radioactive wastewater. Herein, the crosslinked chitosan assisted EDTA intercalated Ca-Mg-Al layered double hydroxides composite foam (CS-EDTA-LDH) was synthesized by combining EDTA intercalation and freeze-drying methods. The macroporous and ultralight properties of CS-EDTA-LDH facilitates its rapid adsorption and facile recovery, and the inorganic/organic incorporation can avoid pore collapse and provide numerous adsorption sites, while the EDTA intercalation can enhance the complex capture of U(VI). The CS-EDTA-LDH presents various functional groups (carboxyl, hydroxyl and amino groups) for U(VI) adsorption, and the adsorption capacity for U(VI) reached 272.3 mg/g at pH 5.0 and 298 K. The adsorption kinetics of U(VI) conformed to PSO equation, whereas the isotherms conformed to the Freundlich model, indicating heterogeneous adsorption with diffusion process as a rate-controlling step. The thermodynamic parameters indicate that U(VI) adsorption by CS-EDTA-LDH is endothermic and spontaneous in nature. The adsorption mechanism is related to the synergic complexation by multi-functional groups, ion exchange, and possible isomeric substitution. Overall, CS-EDTA-LDH could be a promising biosorbent for the cleanup of radioactive pollution due to its high performance for U(VI) adsorption and facile recovery.