Reactivity of carbonized fungi supported nanoscale zero-valent iron toward U(VI) influenced by naturally occurring ions

More discrete and active nano-scale zero-valent iron (NZVI) particles were obtained by assembling them on the surface of carbonized fungi (F) in this study. NZVI/F composites can totally remove 0.25 mmol/L U(VI) in 0.5 h at pH 6.5. Both sorption and reductive precipitation of U(VI) resulted in the high removal. Preliminary evidence showed that the influence of ions (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and CO32−) on NZVI/F composites reactivity varied with system pH. Our findings could provide an essential start in the treatment of water containing U(VI) and multiply coexistent ions, and open the doorways for the application of NZVI/F composites.