Abstract
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•Effect of GO size on adsorption and desorption of U(VI) was investigated at different solution chemistry.•The adsorption rate of U(VI) onto SGO was faster than that onto LGO.•SGO has the better adsorption capacity towards U(VI) than LGO.•It was more difficult to desorb U(VI) from SGO as compared to LGO.
Size as one of important physicochemical properties for graphene oxide (GO) may affect its adsorption and desorption behaviors. To date, there are few reports giving a systematic investigation on this point. In this study, batch experiment was conducted to study the adsorption and desorption of U(VI) on GO with two different size (2–5 µm and 100–300 nm) at different solution chemistry (pH, coexisting ions, humic acid and temperature). Faster adsorption rate and better adsorption capacity were displayed on smaller size GO. Additionally, U(VI) desorption is hysteretic, more so with the smaller size GO. These results showed that GO size played a significant role in determining its adsorption and desorption behavior.