Improving barium ion adsorption on two-dimensional titanium carbide by surface modification

Abstract

Recently, 2D-MXene materials have attracted much attention. However, their low adsorption capacities for metal ions have limited their application in nuclear wastewater disposal. Here, we describe the unprecedentedly high adsorption by Ti₃C₂T_x for the removal of radionuclides by a simple and efficient surface modification strategy. We have produced an Alk-Ti₃C₂T_x material possessing desirable properties such as wide layer spacing and abundant active adsorption sites, with excellent ability to remove barium ions from aqueous solution. Maximum Ba²⁺ adsorption by Alk-Ti₃C₂T_x is 46.46 mg g⁻¹, almost three times higher than that of unmodified Ti₃C₂T_x and much higher than that reported in previous studies. The remarkable selectivity for the removal of Ba²⁺ from simulated mixed nuclear wastewater is highly desirable for application in environmental wastewater treatment.