Uranium ions extraction from the waste solution by thiosemicarbazide anchored cellulose acetate

ABSTRACT

The adsorption of uranium from nitrate waste solution was undertaken by the synthesised thiosemicarbazide functionalised cellulose acetate (TSCCA) adsorbent, which prepared via a condensation reaction of oxidised cellulose acetate (OCA) and thiosemicarbazide (TSC). TSCCA was examined using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analyses, Fourier Transformation Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) characterisation approaches. The thermal analysis was performed through Therrmal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) showing much stable chemical configuration at about ≥ 400 ◦C. Batch tests were conducted to assess the routine of TSCCA in uranium extraction. The influence of pH, the TSCCA amount, contact time, uranium concentration and temperature were scrutinised. The removal capacity of U(VI) after 90 min. using TSCCA adsorbent at 25 ◦C was estimated as 125 mg/g at pH 2. Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models were evaluated for experimental equilibrium data. The Langmuir adsorption model was best fitted with experimental assessments. The kinetic data was analysed, and a pseudo-first order design was decided to fit all applications. The calculated thermodynamic parameters illustrates the adsorption of uranium ions onto TSCCA is endothermic, non-spontaneous and random. The regeneration efficiency of TSCCA was found to be 99% using 0.1 M Na₂CO₃. The removal efficiency didn’t change significantly when eight adsorption-desorption cycles were experimentally conducted.

KEYWORDS:

• Cellulose acetate
• equilibrium kinetics
• thiosemicarbazide
• uranium adsorption
• waste solution

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Nuclear Materials Authority for provision of the sample and tools necessary for the study, co-authors in particular Assistant Professor. Mohamed Farid Cheira, for following up on the work process and continuous encouragement.

Disclosure statement

The corresponding Author, Bahig M. Atia, and Co-authors, Mohamed A. Hassanin, Hassan S. El-Gendy and Mohamed F. Cheira, declare that they have no conflict of interest.