1978 Volume 32 Issue 3 Pages 141-149
Factors, which influence the uranium adsorption of powdery composite adsorbent of basic zinc: carbonate and activated carbon were studied. In the range studied, zinc content of the adsorbent was the most influential factor on the uranium adsorption, and the second influential factor was sea water volume and the third factor was adsorption period. Interactive effects were observed between zinc content and sea water volume, and between zinc content and adsorption period, and.it was deduced that there existed the optimum value of sea water volume and adsorption period. respectively for the zinc content of the adsorbent. Maximum uranium adsorption of adsorbent with 40% zinc content was observed at sea water volume of 15 liters and adsorption period of 25 hrs. As for temperature in the range of 15-35°C, the lower the temperature, the larger amount of adsorbed uranium was.
The powdery adsorbent was made into granule, and its strength and its uranium adsorptivitywere studied in relation to the granulating conditions. By use of PVA with degree of polymeriza-tion above 1,700 as binder, the granular adsorbent with the same strength as commercial granular activated carbon was obtained. PVA amount and its degree of polymerization gave only small effect on uranium adsorption of the adsorbent. Effect of granule size on the uranium adsorption rate in the range of 1-4mm was that the uranium adsorption rate changed proportionally to sur-face area of assumed sphere.
As a test for practical use, five times repetitions of adsorption and desorption were carried out. on the same granular adsorbent. During the repetition the amount of adsorbed uranium rather increased, and desorption ratio of adsorbed uranium was constant at 91-93%. The weight loss of the adsorbent in a cycle of adsorption and desorption was about 3%.
