Extraction of Uranium from Sea-Water by the Tetraethyleneglycole Dimethacrylate, Cross-Linked Poly (Acrylamidoxime) Resin

Studies on the Extraction of Uranium from Sea-Water by the Synthetic Polymer Adsorbent (Part 3)

Abstract

An investigation was made to clarify the technical problems existing in the extraction process of uranium from sea-water with a tetraethyleneglycole dimethacrylate (TEGDM), cross-linked poly (acrylamidoxime) resin, after treatment with 1 M NaOH.
The rate of uranium adsorption showed an increase as the flow rate of sea-water was increased and the temperature was raised. The rate of uranium adsorption showed 0.1mg/g-Ad·dat SV of 200/h and 25°C. The uranium content exceeded 3.2mg/g-Ad after 180 days without reaching the adsorption capacity.
More than 90% of uranium was eluted from the adsorbent by 0.5 M H₂SO₄ for one hour. A cycle test of adsorption-elution on the same adsorbent was carried out, and it was found to be re-usable.
The consumption of eluant, the removal of Cl^-ion at prewashing of the adsorbent before the elution and the recovery of eluate at the expulsion after the elution were also examined.