Manganese ferrite (MnFe2O4) as potential nanosorbent for adsorption of uranium(VI) and thorium(IV)

The adsorption behavior of U(VI) and Th(IV) metal ions by MnFe2O4 NPs was studied as a function of pH, mass of sorbent, contact time, and temperature. Kinetic data was fitted to Pseudo second-order model and qm reached maximum value at pH 3 for Th(IV) and at pH 3.0–5.0 for U(VI) after 3 h. The Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin–Raduskevich isotherm equations were applied to the adsorption data and the proper constants were derived. Adsorption isotherms were studied at different temperature to find ΔH°, ΔG°, and ΔS°. Recovery was carried out by using 0.10 M of HNO3, HCl, EDTA, Na2CO3 and NaCl.