A novel, spongy mesoporous hybrid bio-adsorbents derived from agricultural waste for highly selective thorium recovery

The expansion of engineering and development of porous materials for the bio-adsorbents synthesis from agro-waste-derived as superior efficient extractors is a significant economic and environmental breakthrough. Here, a novel spongy mesoporous hybrid silica (SMS-L) was successfully prepared from wheat straw by developed dissolution/precipitation methodology. This manuscript aims to extract/preconcentrate 232Th isotope from Egyptian cataclastic rock (ECR) using SMS and SMS-L bio-adsorbents. The proposed bio-adsorbents/extractors provide high adsorption capacity toward the 232Th isotope ions depending on the pH value of the extraction process. The optimum conditions of leaching (batch procedure), adsorption and elution (batch and permanent-bed columnar procedures) were investigated through a series of practical experiments. The physical parameters like isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamics were studied. The SMS and SMS-L are considered promising bio-adsorbents for the adsorption/trapping of 232Th isotope from real leach solutions of ECR. These characteristic features may attribute to (i) the recycling and management of sustainable wheat straw wastes, (ii) the low-cost and eco-friendly, (iii) superior adsorption capacity of 232Th isotope, (iv) selective-trapping of 232Th isotope ions among other competitive ions such as Cr3+, Pb2+, Sr2+, Zn2+, Zr4+, Ba2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, V3+ and REEs, and (v) the structural stability of SMS and SMS-L bio-adsorbents even after 10 adsorption-desorption recycles without marked reduction in the Th(IV)-extraction efficacy. This report offers a foundation for additional advancement in clean energy applications. [Display omitted] •Agricultural wheat straw was used to fabricate spongy mesoporous hybrid silica (SMS-L).•SMS-L offered selective thorium (Th) ions recovery adsorbent.•SMS-L bio-adsorbent extract 232Th isotope from Egyptian cataclastic rock (ECR).•The multiple reuse/cycles of SMS-L confirmed its stability and successful design.•∼87% of Th isotope can be extracted selectively at pH 4 using SMS-L bio-adsorbents.