Sonicated Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameork-8 derived Nitrogen-doped hierarchical nanoporous carbon for efficient capture and reversible storage of radioiodine

Abstract Iodine plays a significant role in industry and in chemical processes within living organisms. However, radioiodine exposure possess threats such as thyroid cancer to humans, when they are released into the environment when using nuclear technology and through nuclear accidents. Its capture and storage is critical to safeguard industrial applications while preventing environmental leakages. Herein we report efficient radioiodine capture using a hierarchical nitrogen-doped, large surface area, nanoporous carbon derived from ultrasonication of ZIF-8. The carbon exhibited high adsorption capacity of 434 wt% gravimetrically and 1418 mgg− 1 in cyclohexane solution with fast kinetics and high recoverability. We deduced the high adsorption capacity to be due to the large surface area with micro and mesopores, presence of hydroxyl groups acting as electron donors and the presence of nitrogen, which interacts strongly with the electron-deficient iodine (I2). Moreover, the process best fits the pseudo-second-order and Freundlich models with multilinearity observed with Webber-Morris model. Because of its comparatively lower cost, large surface area, facile preparation, good regeneration and fast kinetics, the as-prepared porous carbon shows exceptional promise as radioiodine adsorbent.