Adsorptivity of Uranium by Aluminium-Activated Carbon Composite Adsorbent
Studies on the Extraction of Uranium from Sea Water by the Composite Adsorbent
1976 Volume 30 Issue 3 Pages 118-123
Details
1976 Volume 30 Issue 3 Pages 118-123
To research the adsorption process of uranium from sea water by aluminium-activated carbon composite adsorbent (C-Al-OH), the authors examined the effects of temperature, pH and carbonate ion concentration of the solution upon the adsorption of uranium, using sodium chloride solution and natural sea water.
The continued mixing of the solution for the duration of two to four hours was required to attain the apparent equilibrium of adsorption. The adsorption velocity at an early stage and the uptake of uranium at the final stage showed an increase in proportion to a rise in the adsorption temperature. In the experiment of adsorption for which sodium chloride solution was used, the linear relationship between, the logarithm of the distribution coefficient (Kd) and the pH of the solution was recognized. The uptake of the uranium from the solution at the pH of 12 increased. as the carbonate ion concentration in the solution decreased. The uranyl ion in the natural sea water was assumed to be uranyl carbonate complex ion (UO2(CO3)34-). As the result of the calculation conducted by using the formation constants for uranyl complexes in literature, it was. found that uranyl hydroxo complex ion (UO2(OH)3-) increased in line with a decrease of the carbonate ion concentration in the solution.
The above results of the experiment suggested that the adsorption of uranium by the adsorbent.(C-Al-OH) was cationic adsorption or hydrolysis adsorption being related with the active proton on the surface of the adsorbent.
