Adsorptive removal of thorium from aqueous solution using diglycolamide functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were functionalized with diglycolamide (DGA) through chemical covalent route. The adsorption behavior of the DGA-functionalized-MWCNTs (DGA-MWCNTs) towards thorium from aqueous solution was studied under varying operating conditions of pH, concentration of thorium, DGA-MWCNTs dosages, contact time, and temperature. The effective range of pH for the removal of Th(IV) is 3.0–4.0. Kinetic data followed a pseudo-second-order model. The equilibrium data were correlated with the Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin-Radushkevich and Temkin models. The equilibrium data are best fitted with Langmuir model. The equilibrium Th(IV) sorption capacity was estimated to be 10.58 mg g−1 at 298 K. The standard enthalpy, entropy, and free energy of adsorption of the thorium with DGA-MWCNTs were calculated to be 8.952 kJ mol−1, 0.093 kJ mol−1 K−1 and -18.521 kJ mol−1 respectively at 298 K. The determined value of sticking probability (0.072) and observed kinetic and isotherm models reveal the chemical adsorption of thorium on DGA-MWCNTs.