Highly efficient eco-friendly sodium titanate sorbents of Cs(i), Sr(ii), Co(ii) and Eu(iii): synthesis, characterization and detailed adsorption study.

Development of useful all-around materials which can quickly and efficiently adsorb radionuclides in response to environmental radioactive contamination is an urgent research objective. In response to this need, our team developed a simple preparation method for stable sodium titanates which can serve as efficient agents for removal of radionuclides from water. With an emphasis on an environmentally friendly synthesis, the resulting materials were defined by a range of means and methods measuring pH, ionic strength, contact time or metal ion concentration in order to assess their potential for use and applications as sorbents.

Influence of Inorganic Bases on the Structure of Titanium Dioxide-Based Microsheets.

Laboratory synthesis of microsheets of titanium dioxide from titanyl sulfate involves the use of ammonia solution, whereas another inorganic base is most likely to be employed at the industrial level, as ammonia is a toxic agent and therefore should be avoided according to European Union (EU) regulations. Selected nontoxic bases such as sodium, potassium, and lithium hydroxides have been tested as an alternative to ammonia solution to obtain amorphous and crystalline TiO-based microsheets. The final products obtained at each step of the procedure (samples lyophilized and annealed at 230 and 800 °C) were analyzed with electron and atomic force microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, thermal analysis, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopies to determine their morphology and phase composition.

Highly-efficient removal of Pb(ii), Cu(ii) and Cd(ii) from water by novel lithium, sodium and potassium titanate reusable microrods.

In this work, we report on the efficient removal of heavy metal ions with nanostructured lithium, sodium and potassium titanates from simulated wastewater. The titanates were obtained a fast, easy and cost effective process based on extraction of sulfate ions from the crystals of titanyl sulfate and their replacement with hydroxyl groups of NaOH, LiOH and KOH solutions leaving the Ti-O framework intact. The as-prepared titanates were carefully examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy.