Abstract
An investigation was made on the desorption of uranium from titanium-activated carbon composite adsorbent with mixed eluent of Na2CO3 and Na2HCO3. The rate of desorption of uranium from the adsorbent in the batch process depended on the composition of eluent and temperature. The rate of desorption showed an increase as the ratio of NaHCO3 to Na2CO3 was increased or the temperature was raised. In the column process with the mixed eluent of 0.5N Na2CO3 and 0.5N Na2CO3 at an ordinary temperature, the rate of desorption of uranium did not vary in the range of adsorbent/eluent ratio below 20% and initial uranium concentration of eluent less than 15ppm. Under these conditions, the eluent was found to be re-usable without a decrease in the rate of desorption. From these results, the application of multistage desorption process was discussed. The dissolution of titanium from adsorbent was less than 0.15%. The adsorbent, which was regenerated by washing with 0.1N HCl after desorption, was found to be re-usable.
