Nitric-oxidized vs alkaline-activated carbon nanomaterials for thorium(IV): mechanism-resolved adsorption and reuse
摘要
Nanostructured carbons derived from olive pomace were tailored through chemistry-focused oxidation (Bio-N) or texture-focused alkaline activation (Bio-O) to disentangle how surface functionality and pore architecture govern thorium(IV) capture from acidic water. Structure–property analysis revealed that Bio-O provides faster access to binding domains, whereas Bio-N offers stronger temperature-enhanced site affinity. Both materials showed spontaneous, endothermic uptake and effective acid regenerability, with distinct reloading behaviors reflecting their differing chemistries. The study highlights a dual design principle—chemistry-first for capacity leverage and texture-first for rapid capture—establishing olive–pomace carbons as promising low-cost media for radionuclide polishing.