Synthesis of β-cyclodextrin functionalized silica gel and its application for adsorption of uranium(VI)

A novel β-cyclodextrin functionalized silica gel (SAM-Si-β-CD) was prepared with grafting β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) to silica gel (Si-β-CD) containing salicylamide. It was characterized using XPS, SEM and FT-IR techniques. Variables of batch experiments including pH, temperature, contact time, interfering ions were studied. Langmuir, Freundlich isotherm and kinetic models were suitable to describe the adsorption process. The results showed that the equilibrium adsorption capacity was found to be 6.45 mg g −1 respectively at pH 4.5, equilibrium time 60 min and initial uranium(VI) concentration 25 mg L −1 . Additionally, SAM-Si-β-CD effectively adsorbed UO 2 2+ in aqueous solution in the presence of interfering ions (Na + , Fe 3+ , Cu 2+ , Mg 2+ , La 3+ , Mn 2+ , Zn 2+ , Pb 2+ and Hg 2+ ).