Synthesis of Graphene Functionalized with (SDS) for Removal of 137Cs(I) and Ce(III) Ions from Radioactive Waste

S odium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was chosen to obtain a sandwich type assembly of SDS and graphene (GR) sheets. The modified (SDS/GR) and unmodified GR were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy , as well as thermal (TG)  and TMA analyses. The SDS obviously prompts the dispersion of GR into a typical wrinkled layered structure. The addition of SDS into GR has lowering the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). 137 Cs is the most currently radioactive isotope generated in the area around the Chernobyl disaster . Cerium is quantitatively concentrated and separated from Egyptian monazite by leaching the monazite lanthanide oxides cake. So, SDS/GR was applied to remove Cs(I) and Ce(III) from aqueous solutions using a batch technique. The factors pH, contact time, temperature, and dosage were investigated. The highest adsorption capacity of SDS/GR is found to be 44 and 60 mg g -1 for 137 Cs(I) and  Ce(III), respectively. The adsorption of Cs(I) and Ce(III) onto SDS/GR fitted the pseudo-second-order model. It was found that the adsorption processes have reached their equilibrium state in about 2h, which is faster than most of carbon-based adsorbents can do. From the thermodynamic parameters the sorption process was endothermic and spontaneous in nature.