LAUSR

Abstract A general synthetic strategy for HS-Fe3O4@MIL-53(Al) adsorbent has been developed in this work. The composite material exhibits an efficient capture performance for rubidium ion due to sulfhydryl group and magnetic Fe3O4 doped in its porous cavity. The results of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and N2 adsorption–desorption proved that the HS-Fe3O4 was immobilized in the composite material. High Rb+ uptake capacity over the HS-Fe3O4@MIL-53(Al) is attributed to the exchange of acidic protons between the sulfhydryl group and the Rb+. The pseudo-second-order and Freundlich model could make a good description of the adsorption process. The Rb+ sorption selectivity was moderately influenced by any co-ions effect (K+, Na+ and Cs+) due to HS-Fe3O4 doped. These results reveal that our novel composite material might be a promising industrial adsorbent for Rb+ capture.