Unraveling the mechanism of iodate adsorption by anthocyanin-rich fruit waste as green adsorbents for Applications of radioactive iodine remediation in water environment

In aquatic settings, radioactive iodine from nuclear waste can exist as iodate (IO3−). This study explored the efficiency and mechanism of IO3− adsorption by minimally modified anthocyanin-based adsorbents. Pomegranate peels and mangosteen pericarps were selected from an initial screening test and could remove over 70% of 10 mg/L IO3−. The adsorbents yielded adsorption capacity (q) of 9.59 mg/g and 2.31 mg/g, respectively, at room temperature. At 5 °C, q values increased to 14.5 and 5.13 mg/g, respectively. Pomegranate peels showed superior performance, with approximately 4 times the anthocyanin content of mangosteen pericarps. Both adsorbents took 120 min to reach adsorption equilibrium, and no desorption was observed after 8 days (I-131 half-time). Confirmation of physisorption was indicated by the fit of the pseudo-first-order reaction model, negative entropy (exothermic), and negative activation energy (Arrhenius equation). IO3− inclusion was confirmed through adsorbent surface modifications in scanning electron microscope images, the increased iodine content post-adsorption in energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis, and alterations in peaks corresponding to anthocyanin-related functional groups in Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy at 4564.54 eV showed that iodine was retained in the form of IO3−. Through the computational analysis, electrostatic forces, hydrogen bonds, and π-halogen interactions were deduced as mechanisms of IO3− adsorption by anthocyanin-based adsorbents. Anthocyanin-rich fruit wastes emerged as sustainable materials for eliminating IO3− from water.