Removal of uranium ions from contaminated solutions by adsorption on cerium and lanthanum magnesium ferrite

Abstract Magnesium ferrites doped with lanthanum (MgLaF) and cerium (MgCeF) were synthesized according to the combustion method. These ferrite-based nanoparticles showed improved adsorption properties for uranium ions. The maximum capacity of 138.95 and 152.39 mg/g were achieved at pH 5 after 30 min of contact with the MgLaF and MgCeF nanoparticles. The outcomes demonstrated that the nanoparticles have a high adsorption affinity for uranium ions (θ ≥ 0.9396). This adsorption affinity was not significantly affected by the presence of other ions, where the amount of uranium adsorbed from granite leach liquor on MgLaF and MgCeF reached 122.7 and 134.8 mg/g.