Encapsulation of 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-thienyl)-1,3-butanedione into the silica gel matrix for capturing uranium(VI) ion species

The thenoyl-trifluoro-acetone (tta: 4,4,4-Trifluoro-1-(2-Thienyl)-1,3-butanedione) has been successfully encapsulated into the silica gel matrix producing a composite of general formula SG-TTA. The tendency of the new composite to remove and capture uranium(VI) ion species has been studied by using batch sorption. The maximum loading of uranium(VI) ion into SG-TTA is 98% upon the experimental of sorption parameters pHi > 5, Ci > 25 mg L−1, T = 25 °C, dosage = 2 g L−1 and 80 rpm. Thermodynamically, the sorption of U(VI) ion follows the Langmuir isotherm model (ca. R2 = 1) as a spontaneous process (ΔG = − 34.9593 kJ mol−1). Kinetically, the sorption follows a pseudo-second-order model (ca. R2 = 1) achieving chemisorption process, requiring activation energy (Ea) of 26.23732 kJ mol−1. The results obtained from this study serve the community and human life in terms of using SG-TTA composite to get rid of the uranium ion from water or even to reuse it peacefully.