Efficient removal of europium from aqueous solutions using attapulgite-iron oxide magnetic composites

The attapulgite-iron oxide magnetic composites were synthesized by coprecipitation of iron oxides on attapulgite particles, and characterized by FTIR and XRD. The composites had the saturation magnetization value of 32.7 emu/g, which made the composites separate from aqueous solution easily using the magnetic separation method in large scale. The composites could preconcentrate Eu(III) efficiently from aqueous solutions. The sorption of Eu(III) on the composites was affected by pH and ionic strength obviously. The sorption isotherms were well simulated by Langmuir model, and the maximum sorption capacity was calculated to be 4.94 × 10−4 mol/g at pH 5.0, which was much higher other materials.

Graphical abstractThe attapulgite-iron oxide magnetic composites have high sorption capacity for the removal of Eu(III) from aqueous solutions and can be separated from aqueous solutions using magnetic separation method.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide