Industrial utilization of nuclear resources greatly depends on the effective treatment of nuclear waste. The efficient removal of radioactive nuclides from liquid effluents by using different adsorbents has thus become crucial. Herein, for the first time, two-dimensional transition metal carbides (MXenes) are investigated as scavengers of cesium (Cs⁺) from contaminated water. Due to the combined advantages of the layered structure and the presence of heterogeneous sites (hydroxyl, oxygen and fluorine groups), the adsorbent reached the steady state within 1 min with the maximum Cs⁺ adsorption capacity of 25.4 mg g⁻¹ at room temperature. The kinetics studies of the Cs⁺ scavenging process demonstrated that the adsorption of Cs⁺ followed the pseudo-second-order model whereas the adsorption equilibrium data obeyed the Freundlich model. Thermodynamic studies revealed that the adsorption process was endothermic. The adsorbent showed an excellent Cs⁺ removal efficiency in neutral to slightly alkaline solutions. Moreover, it can retain Cs⁺ even in the presence of a high concentration of competing cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺ and Sr²⁺). The Cs⁺ loaded adsorbent was regenerated with a 0.2 M HCl solution and reused at least five times for over 91% removal of contaminants.

Crystalline magnesium ferrite (MgFe2O4) spinel oxide powder was synthesized by nitrate–citrate sol–gel auto-combustion process with stoichiometric composition of metal nitrate salts, urea and citric acid. The study was focused on the modification of synthesis conditions and effect of these modified conditions on the structural and electrical properties of synthesized MgFe2O4 ceramic materials. Phase composition, crystallinity, structure and surface morphology were studied by X-ray diffraction, FTIR and SEM. Pure single phase MgFe2O4 spinel ferrite was obtained after calcination at 850°C. Rietveld refinement of XRD result confirmed the single cubic phase spinel oxide with the lattice constant of a=8.3931Å and Fd3m symmetry. UV–visible absorption study of calcined powder revealed an optical band gap of 2.17eV. SEM images of sintered specimens (1050–1450°C) showed that the grain size increased with the increase in sintering temperature. From the impedance results of the sintered MgFe2O4 specimens, it was found that the resistance of grain, grain boundary and electrode effect decreased with an increase in sintering temperature and associated grain growth. In the intermediate frequency region lowering of impedance and dielectric values was observed due to the decrease in grain boundary areas. Mössbauer studies indicated that magnesium ferrite had a mixed spinel structure in calcined and sintered samples, however, the well refined single phase MgFe2O4 was observed due to well developed high crystalline structure at 1350°C and 1450°C