Comparative analysis of adsorptive potential of TiO₂ and its MWCNT composite (TiO₂-MWCNT) as uranium (VI) scavengers

In the current study, sol gel and hydrothermal methods were used to synthesis pure TiO₂ (TO) and its composite with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (TO–C), respectively. The prepared materials were subjected to surface and structural characterization using XRD, RAMAN, FESEM and EDX. The batch mode experiments were carried out systematically to obtained the adsorption data which were further analysed using various isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic models, in order to determine the adsorptive potential of TO and TO–C for the remediation of U(VI). The thermodynamic characteristics showed the endothermic and spontaneous nature of adsorption. The isotherm studies revealed the maximum Langmuir adsorption capacity (mg/g) of 65.74 and 41.97 exhibited by TO–C and TO, respectively for U(VI). The study proposed that U(VI) extraction from water is primarily caused by п-electron density of MWCNTs and monolayer chemisorption through coordination complex formation. These results confirm the prospective use of TO–C as packing material for column units in water purifiers.