Uranium membrane separation from binary aqueous solutions of UO₂²⁺-K⁺ and UO₂²⁺-Ca²⁺ by the nanofiltration process

ABSTRACT

The performance of the nanofiltration process was investigated for uranium separation from binary aqueous solutions of UO₂²⁺-K⁺ and UO₂²⁺-Ca²⁺ containing uranium in high concentration ranges. Rejection coefficient, permeate flux, and membrane selectivity of PES-2, NF-1, and NF-2 membranes under various operational conditions of pH, pressure, and concentration of interfering cation were evaluated. In most cases, the order of metal rejections with these membranes was UO₂²⁺ > Ca²⁺ > K⁺. According to the obtained results, the nanofiltration process could be effectively used for selective uranium separation from aqueous solutions containing uranium and other monovalent and divalent cations.

KEYWORDS:

• Binary aqueous solutions
• membrane separation
• nanofiltration
• uranium