Facile fabrication of magnetic cucurbit[6]uril/graphene oxide composite and application for uranium removal

We report on the facile, reliable fabrication of novel magnetic cucurbit[6]uril/graphene oxide (CB[6]/GO/Fe3O4) composite by using an in-situ co-precipitation method, for which the formation process and possible formation mechanism were also investigated. Moreover, the composite was used as an adsorbent for the removal of uranium(VI) from aqueous solution. Herein, GO nanosheets were chosen as a substrate to immobilize CB[6] and Fe3O4. During the co-precipitation of Fe3O4 nanoparticles on surface of GO nanosheets, CB[6] molecules was fixed through hydrogen bonding simultaneously. The as-prepared composite exhibited a high efficiency of magnetic separability, competitive adsorption performance and acceptable reusability and stability for U(VI) removal, indicating a potential application in uranium-bearing wastewater treatment.