Removal of aqueous uranyl ions using titania-supported mesoporous silica composite with the synergistic effect of coupled adsorption and photocatalytic reduction of U(VI)

•Adsorption and photocatalytic reduction of U(VI) by TNT-SBA-15 material were found.•UV photons increases 2 times sorption capacity of TNT-SBA-15(1:1) composite.•Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were well fitted with experimental results.•The adsorption is a spontaneous and endothermic process.•Adsorbent is easily regenerated using 0.3 M HNO3 acid.