Carbon nanotubes functionalized with copper hexacyanoferrate nanoparticles for a selective extraction of cesium from liquid waste

Single-walled carbon nanotubes are functionalized with copper hexacyanoferrate nanoparticles for the liquid-solid extraction of cesium from liquid waste and contaminated water. The functionalization process is followed mainly by x-ray photoemission spectroscopy. Indeed, determining the chemical environment around carbon or nitrogen atoms allows to evidence the formation of covalent bounding. In addition, the signatures of iron and copper ions give information on the effective growth of hexacyanoferrate nanoparticles. Furthermore, the cesium sorption mechanism is investigated by comparing the peak intensities associated to the response of potassium and cesium ions. Finally, based on the liquid chromatography analyzes, the sorption of cesium with the functionalized carbon supports is studied. The main results of this work are the demonstration of both a good selectivity of cesium trapping and a high sorption capacity by hybrid single-walled carbon nanotubes.