Adsorption and desorption of uranium on nano goethite and nano alumina

The nano goethite and nano alumina were synthesized to investigate the effect of nanoscale size on adsorption–desorption of U(VI) from aqueous solution. It was determined that the site densities of nanoparticles are higher than α-alumina and goethite, whereas slight effect of carbonate on adsorption of U(VI) onto nanoparticles was observed. The maximum adsorption capacities of nano alumina and nano goethite were ~151 and 79 mg/g, respectively. The batch desorption indicated stronger binding affinity of U(VI) for nanoparticles as compared to non-nanoparticles, which were consistent with the results of surface complexation modeling assuming weak and strong sites for nanoparticles while weak sites for α-alumina and goethite.