K2xMnxSn3−xS6 (x = 0.5–0.95) (KMS-1) immobilized on the reduced graphene oxide as KMS-1/r-GO aerogel to effectively remove Cs+ and Sr2+ from aqueous solution

Novel composite of immobilized layered K 2x Mn x Sn 3−x S 6 (x = 0.5–0.95) (KMS-1) on the surface of reduced graphene oxide (r-GO), KMS-1/r-GO (KGO), has been fabricated by employing hydrothermal technique and used for the removal of radioactive Cs + and Sr 2+ ions from aqueous solutions. The KGO was characterized thoroughly with different characteristic techniques and found that the laminar KMS-1 nanoplate were immobilized on the surface of r-GO nanosheets, forming a highly porous stacked structure. Batch studies have been done for obtaining optimal experimental parameters and investigating the effect of adsorption time, initial concentration of pollutant, pH of solution, temperature, and competing anions on the removal properties. At room temperature, the maximum adsorption capacity of KGO was 338.18 mg·g −1 and 220.12 mg·g −1 for both Cs + and Sr 2+ , respectively. Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models were fitted well with experimental data of removed Cs + and Sr 2+ . Adsorption showed good selectivity of composite towards Cs + and Sr 2+ in the presence of co-existing ions (Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ ). The proposed adsorption mechanism involved ion exchange through the presence of K + ions in KMS-1 and formation of surface ionic interactions between r-GO and ions through COO X or S X (X denoted Cs + and Sr 2+ ). This study highlighted the facile applicability of novel material KGO and could be used as a new adsorbent for the removal of radioactive ions.