Preparation of magnetic biomass-carbon aerogel and its application for adsorption of uranium(VI)

Magnetic carbon aerogels were prepared from inexpensive and readily available winter melon to adsorb U(VI). The morphology, structure, magnetism, characteristic functional groups and chemical bonds of magnetic carbon aerogels were characterized by TEM, SEM, XRD, BET, VSM, FT-IR, XPS. Under the condition of 303 K and pH 6, magnetic carbon aerogel reached adsorption equilibrium within 120 min, with the adsorption capacity of 230.3 mg g–1, much higher than that of carbon aerogel (77.9 mg g–1), which is the function of Fe–O. The good magnetism of magnetic carbon aerogels allows it to be easily separated from the solution by applying magnetic field. The adsorption isotherm data accord with Langmuir isothermal model. Adsorption is a spontaneous and endothermic process.