Synthesis and fabrication of segregative and durable MnO2@chitosan composite aerogel beads for uranium(VI) removal from wastewater.

• Sustainable MnO 2 @chitosan (CTS) composite aerogel beads were designed and synthesized. • The millimeter-scale MnO 2 @CTS gathered merits of easy separation and high capacity. • Mechanical strength was improved through in-situ growth of Nano-MnO 2 on CTS beads. • The maximum adsorption capacity for uranium reached 410.7 mg/g at pH eq 6. • During adsorption, MnO 2 @CTS partially reduced U(VI) to U(V/IV). To address the imperative need for efficient removal of uranium-containing wastewater and mitigate radioactive contamination risks associated with nuclear energy, the development of materials with high removal efficiency and facile separation is crucial. This study designed and synthesised MnO 2 @chitosan (CTS) composite aerogel beads by in-situ growing δ-MnO 2 on porous CTS aerogel beads. This approach not only mitigates the agglomeration of MnO 2 nanospheres but also significantly enhances the porous structure and surface area of MnO 2 @CTS. These cost-effective and eco-friendly millimeter-scale spherical aerogels exhibited convenient separation properties after adsorption. These characteristics help mitigate the risk of equipment seam blockage and secondary pollution that are often associated with powdered adsorbents. Additionally, MnO 2 @CTS exhibited remarkable mechanical strength (stress approximately 0.55 MPa at 60 % strain), enabling rapid separation and easy regeneration while maintaining high adsorption performance even after five cycles. Significantly, MnO 2 @CTS exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity of 410.7 mg/g at pH 6 and 298 K, surpassing reported values for most CTS/MnO 2 -based adsorbents. The chemisorption process of U(VI) on MnO 2 @CTS followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Dubinin-Radushkevish models. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis further confirmed the reduction of U(VI) to U(V/IV). These findings highlight the substantial potential of MnO 2 @CTS aerogel beads for U(VI) removal from aqueous solutions, positioning them as a promising solution for addressing U(VI) contamination in wastewater. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]