AbstractTiO2 anatase nanotubes synthesised via anodic oxidation were used as adsorbent for the uptake of U and Pb from aqueous solution and the photoremoval of As(III). An X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study of the sorbent medium surface revealed a high adsorption of U and Pb at pH 8. The adsorption of the uranyl ion was enhanced in an anoxy (N2) atmosphere, because this prevents the formation of very stable carbonyl complexes. As(III) was adsorbed on TiO2 but in the presence of O2 and UV light was oxidized to As(V). XPS analysis revealed that in the pH range 3-9 As(V) was always the major species detected at the surface of the titania photocatalyst.
The nature of frontier orbitals under systematic ligand exchange in (pseudo-)octahedral Fe(ii) complexes