Synthesis of a cellulose derivative for enhanced sorption and selectivity of uranium from phosphate rocks prior to its fluorometric determination

ABSTRACT

In this research work, the separation of Uranium from phosphate medium via adsorption prior to its fluorometric determination was carried out onto a newly synthesised adsorbent made via impregnation of urea onto cellulose (UIC). The full characterisation of the synthetic extractant (UIC) was carried out by various instrumental techniques such as elemental analysis, FTIR, TGA, XRD and SEM analysis. Various factors that may affect the quality of adsorbing U (VI) ions using synthesised Urea-impregnated cellulose had been investigated. The maximum adsorption capacity (82 mg/g) for U (VI) has been verified by the Langmuir isotherm model. The thermodynamics and kinetics of the adsorption process indicated that the uranium sorption onto synthesised Urea-impregnated cellulose was an exothermic and pseudo-second-order process. The tolerance limits for the common cations which are actually found with uranium in the phosphate solutions and may show sorption behaviour on the synthesised UIC resin were calculated and gave a high tolerance limit. Contrary to previously reported studies, several ameliorations have resulted including an elevated selectivity and adsorption capacity of uranium from phosphate medium. The optimised method was applied with good accuracy results for determination of uranium in reference and different phosphate rock types bearing uranium.

KEYWORDS:

• Urea derivative of cellulose
• phosphoric acid
• uranium preconcentration
• uranium fluorometric determination
• sorption isotherms

Acknowledgements

The author gratefully acknowledges to my Research team of Nuclear Materials Authority (Prof. Hisham Fouad, Prof. Saeyda Abu Elenein and Dr Shaimaa Abdulmoteleb) for their support and help.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.