Adsorption of uranium from its aqueous solutions using activated cellulose and silica grafted cellulose

Abstract

Abstract The present work provides a thorough description of the preparation of two cellulose anion exchange resins. In addition, the application of the prepared resins for treatment the uranium-contaminated wastewater. In the preparation, the first resin was cellulose reacted with 0.3 M HNO 3 to produce Activated Cellulose (AC), while the second was AC treated with sodium metasilicate and phosphoric acid to yield Silica Grafted Cellulose (SGC). The efficiency of the two prepared resins for uranium adsorption from aqueous solution was testifying on a batch scale. In solutions of pH ranging from 4 to 7, results showed a high exchange rate and uptaking capacity up to 105 mg/g. However, the addition of NO 3 − , Fe 3+ and Th 4+ ions to the target media has an adverse impact on the uranium sorption for AC adsorbent. Otherwise, the addition of uranyl sulfate complexes could ameliorate Fe 3+ and Th 4+ adsorbed into the SGC.