Reformation of the surface of powdered activated carbon (PAC) using covalent organic polymers (COPs) and synthesis of a Prussian blue impregnated adsorbent for the decontamination of radioactive cesium

Prussian blue (PB) is known to selectively adsorb cesium (Cs), with a high adsorption efficiency. However, it is difficult to collect it after adsorption, which increases the risk of secondary environmental pollution. In this study, covalent organic polymers (COPs) were used to reform the surface of powdered activated carbon (PAC) particles in order to stably immobilize PB, with the aim of developing an adsorbent impregnated with PB (COP-PAC-PB). PAC particles reformed with COPs (COP-PAC) were analyzed using TEM (EDS) and FT-IR techniques, and it was found that COPs were successfully synthesized on the surface of COP-PAC particles. COP-PAC-PB particles were synthesized by reacting PAC particles with iron(III) chloride and potassium ferrocyanide solutions in order, to synthesize PB within the pores of COPs (in situ). COP-PAC-PB particles were analyzed using XRD and FT-IR techniques, and peaks showing the general characteristics of PB were observed, which indicated that PB existed on the surface of COP-PAC-PB particles. PB was synthesized on the surface of the non-reformed groups (PAC and Ox-PAC) using the same method. In addition, UV–vis analysis was performed to compare the characteristics of PB desorbed from the non-reformed and reformed groups immediately after synthesizing and washing them. In the non-reformed groups (PAC-PB and Ox-PAC-PB), a large amount of PB was desorbed while they were washed 6 times. For COP-PAC-PB, however, a small amount of PB was desorbed during the first washing, but no desorbed PB was observed thereafter. The maximum Cs adsorption capacity of COP-PAC-PB particles was 19 mg/g, and its removal efficiency of radioactivity cesium (Cs-137, 60 Bq/kg) was 97.3%. In this study, the surface of PAC particles was effectively reformed using COPs, and an adsorbent to which PB was stably immobilized was developed.