Selective sorption of cesium using self-assembled monolayers on mesoporoussupports

The synthesis of a novel nanocomposite sorbent material, copper ferrocyanid e immobilized within a mesoporous ceramic matrix, and its use as a novel ce sium sorbent material is reported in this paper. Complete removal of cesium was achieved in the presence of competing metal ions for solutions contain ing 2 ppm cesium under a variety conditions. Loading capacity of more than 1.35 mmol Cs per g of sorbent material has been achieved. The exceptionally fast binding kinetics and high loading capacity, resulting from the rigidl y open pore structure and extremely high surface area of the sorbent materi als, make them potentially very useful for the removal of cesium from nucle ar wastes and contaminated groundwater.