Fabrication of AMP/SBA-15 with various morphologies for cesium removal from aqueous solution

In this work, mesoporous SBA-15 with different morphologies (platelets, rods, and fibers) were facilely fabricated and employed as a support for immobilization of Ammonium 12-Molybdophosphate (AMP, (NH4)3[P(Mo12O40)]). The obtained AMP/SBA-15 was then developed as a composite adsorbent to remove cesium (Cs) from an aqueous solution. The Cs+ adsorption onto the composite adsorbent was investigated as a function of AMP loading, contact time, pH, initial Cs+ concentration, and interfering cations. Our results show that the morphology of SBA-15 has a small effect on kinetic of the adsorption process and adsorption capacity through influence on the availability of active sites after AMP loading. The 50%AMP/P-SBA-15 with short pore showed the shortest equilibrium time and the highest adsorption capacity therefore delivering the best performance among the three morphologies. Selective adsorption results demonstrated that Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ in solution do not interfere with Cs+ during the adsorption process on AMP/SBA-15 indicating high selectivity for Cs+. Hence, AMP/SBA-15 with platelet-shape morphology and short pore is an efficient adsorbent to remove Cs+ from an aqueous solution.