Effect of Hydrothermal, Ultrasonic-Assisted, and Stirring Methods on the Synthesis of Cassava Rhizome-Derived Activated Carbon and Copper Hexacyanoferrate Composites for Radioactive Cesium-137 Removal

Abstract:

This study investigates the removal of radioactive cesium-137 (Cs-137) from wastewater using activated carbon derived from cassava rhizome (CRAC), composited with copper hexacyanoferrate (CuHCF) through three synthesis methods including hydrothermal (HTM), ultrasonic-assisted (US), and mechanical stirring (STIR). The objective was to enhance the availability of active adsorption sites for improved Cs-137 capture. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed the formation of carboxylate ion groups (-COO^-) in the CRAC/CuHCF composites synthesized via the hydrothermal method, indicating deprotonation of carboxylic groups (-COOH) during synthesis. This transformation is believed to facilitate Cs⁺ ion binding. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the presence of a face-centered cubic structure in the composite, which provides structural vacancies conducive to Cs⁺ diffusion. These findings suggest a dual adsorption mechanism involving surface complexation and lattice incorporation. BET analysis revealed that CRAC composites exhibited significantly enhanced surface area and porosity, with the HTM method providing uniform carbon dispersion and the smallest pore diameter (5.46 nm), whereas US cavitation yielded the highest pore volume (0.17 cm³/g). Batch adsorption experiments demonstrated that CRAC/CuHCF (HTM) composites achieved the highest Cs-137 removal efficiency (98.90%) and adsorption capacity (6.15 × 10⁻⁷ mg/g), outperforming composites synthesized via US and STIR methods, as well as pure CuHCF and CRAC alone. Kinetic modeling indicated that the adsorption process followed a pseudo-second-order model, suggesting chemisorption as the dominant mechanism. Furthermore, the adsorption isotherm was best described by the Freundlich model, implying multilayer adsorption on heterogeneous surfaces.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 1194)
• Pages: 169-180
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-94dqKk
• Online since: June 2026
• Authors: Sudarat Issarapanacheewin*, Kanyanat Tawatbundit, Witsanu Katekaew, Nikom Prasertchiewchan, Wilasinee Kingkam
• Keywords: Activated Carbon, Adsorption, Cassava Rhizome, Copper Hexacyanoferrate, Radioactive ¹³⁷Cs

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