Sustainable removal of U(VI) by micron-engineered Ulva prolifera: adsorption behavior and mechanism

In this work, through the ball-milling treatment process, the novel micron-engineered Ulva prolifera (m- Ulva ) was prepared and used to remove U(VI) from water. The m- Ulva properties were interpreted by analysis of the morphology structure, specific surface area, functional groups, and composition. The adsorption experimental results testified that the U(VI) adsorption process depends strongly on pH, while followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. The maximum absorption capacity was shown to be 147.06 mg/g at pH 5.0 and 25° C. Based on various characterization, the related adsorption mechanisms mainly encompassed electrostatic attraction, complexation and partial reduction of U(VI). The study presents a green, scalable method to transform Ulva prolifera into low-cost, micron-engineered biomass material for U(VI)-contaminated wastewater cleanup.