Efficiency of biological versus mesoporous adsorbents for gadolinium removal from wastewater

Abstract Gadolinium application in industry and medicine results in generation of large volumes of gadolinium-containing wastewater, which can present hazard for humans and environment. Adsorption proved to be an efficient way of metal removal from wastewater. Two adsorbents of different origin, yea...

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Main Authors: Inga Zinicovscaia, Nikita Yushin, Dube Sifelani, Doina Humelnicu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14970-5
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author Inga Zinicovscaia
Nikita Yushin
Dube Sifelani
Doina Humelnicu
author_facet Inga Zinicovscaia
Nikita Yushin
Dube Sifelani
Doina Humelnicu
author_sort Inga Zinicovscaia
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Gadolinium application in industry and medicine results in generation of large volumes of gadolinium-containing wastewater, which can present hazard for humans and environment. Adsorption proved to be an efficient way of metal removal from wastewater. Two adsorbents of different origin, yeast biomass and titanosilicate ETS-10, were applied for gadolinium removal from synthetic wastewater under different experimental conditions. Several analytical techniques, including scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were used for adsorbents characterization. The maximum removal of gadolinium by both adsorbents was achieved at pH 3.0. By studying kinetics, the applicability of the pseudo-first-order model for the description of gadolinium adsorption on analyzed adsorbents was shown. Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms were used to explain the equanimity of the sorption process. The Langmuir model showed its applicability for the explanation of the equilibrium data obtained for yeast biomass, while Freundlich model was more applicable for mesoporous material. The maximum sorption capacity of titanosilicate ETS-10 (234 mg/g) significantly overpassed the value obtained for yeast biomass (98 mg/g). The relevant thermodynamic parameters, standard free energy, enthalpy change, and entropy change were calculated to understand the nature of the adsorption process. For both adsorbents the process was spontaneous and heat-taking. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy reaved the role of functional groups in gadolinium removal. Tested adsorbents maintained high adsorption capacity during three sorption–desorption cycles.
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spelling doaj-art-3be377adffeb42de8b9692fb899409972025-08-24T11:19:48ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-14970-5Efficiency of biological versus mesoporous adsorbents for gadolinium removal from wastewaterInga Zinicovscaia0Nikita Yushin1Dube Sifelani2Doina Humelnicu3Department of Nuclear Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear ResearchDepartment of Nuclear Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear ResearchUniversity of JohannesburgFaculty of Chemistry, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of IasiAbstract Gadolinium application in industry and medicine results in generation of large volumes of gadolinium-containing wastewater, which can present hazard for humans and environment. Adsorption proved to be an efficient way of metal removal from wastewater. Two adsorbents of different origin, yeast biomass and titanosilicate ETS-10, were applied for gadolinium removal from synthetic wastewater under different experimental conditions. Several analytical techniques, including scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were used for adsorbents characterization. The maximum removal of gadolinium by both adsorbents was achieved at pH 3.0. By studying kinetics, the applicability of the pseudo-first-order model for the description of gadolinium adsorption on analyzed adsorbents was shown. Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms were used to explain the equanimity of the sorption process. The Langmuir model showed its applicability for the explanation of the equilibrium data obtained for yeast biomass, while Freundlich model was more applicable for mesoporous material. The maximum sorption capacity of titanosilicate ETS-10 (234 mg/g) significantly overpassed the value obtained for yeast biomass (98 mg/g). The relevant thermodynamic parameters, standard free energy, enthalpy change, and entropy change were calculated to understand the nature of the adsorption process. For both adsorbents the process was spontaneous and heat-taking. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy reaved the role of functional groups in gadolinium removal. Tested adsorbents maintained high adsorption capacity during three sorption–desorption cycles.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14970-5SorptionGadoliniumTitanosilicate ETS-10YeastFTIR
spellingShingle Inga Zinicovscaia
Nikita Yushin
Dube Sifelani
Doina Humelnicu
Efficiency of biological versus mesoporous adsorbents for gadolinium removal from wastewater
Scientific Reports
Sorption
Gadolinium
Titanosilicate ETS-10
Yeast
FTIR
title Efficiency of biological versus mesoporous adsorbents for gadolinium removal from wastewater
title_full Efficiency of biological versus mesoporous adsorbents for gadolinium removal from wastewater
title_fullStr Efficiency of biological versus mesoporous adsorbents for gadolinium removal from wastewater
title_full_unstemmed Efficiency of biological versus mesoporous adsorbents for gadolinium removal from wastewater
title_short Efficiency of biological versus mesoporous adsorbents for gadolinium removal from wastewater
title_sort efficiency of biological versus mesoporous adsorbents for gadolinium removal from wastewater
topic Sorption
Gadolinium
Titanosilicate ETS-10
Yeast
FTIR
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14970-5
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AT nikitayushin efficiencyofbiologicalversusmesoporousadsorbentsforgadoliniumremovalfromwastewater
AT dubesifelani efficiencyofbiologicalversusmesoporousadsorbentsforgadoliniumremovalfromwastewater
AT doinahumelnicu efficiencyofbiologicalversusmesoporousadsorbentsforgadoliniumremovalfromwastewater