Electrospinning synthesis of porous Al2O3 nanofibers by pluronic P123 triblock copolymer surfactant and properties of uranium (VI)-sorption

Porous Alumina (Al2O3) nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning process using pluronic P123 triblock copolymer surfactant as template. The characterizations of the adsorbent were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nitrogen adsorption-desorption. The obtained nanofibers were used as adsorbents for the removal of Uranium (VI). The maximum adsorption occurred at pH 5, the equilibrium adsorption amount was about 87 mg/g, and the equilibrium time was 6.0 h. A pseudo-second order model could best describe adsorption kinetics. The adsorption equilibrium data fit Freundlich adsorption isotherm equation well. Thermodynamic parameters such as standard enthalpy (ΔH0), standard entropy (ΔS0), standard free energy (ΔG0) and activation energy (Ea) were calculated. The results predict an endothermic nature of adsorption and a spontaneous process.