A novel composite of monosodiumtitanate-amidoximatedpolyacrylonitrilefor the sequestration of uranium from contaminated water: An experimental and simulation study

Abstract

A new inorganic–organic hybrid composite, comprising Monosodiumtitanate(MST) and AmidoximatedPolyacrylonitrile (MPA), has been developed in bead form for the separation of uranium from contaminated water.Inline with the design objectives, asynergistic effect on uranium uptake by MST and Amidoximewas obtained.The measured U uptake capacity is 280 mg/g, the highest ever reported U uptake by any composite in column useable form. U uptake by the composite follows the Langmuir isotherm mechanism. The uptake performance remains unaltered even in the presence of sulphate, nitrate, chloride ion, and carbonate ions. The column performance of the composite was demonstrated by removing U over 12,000-bed volumes of waste effluent from 1000 ppb to down below < 60 ppb level. A mathematicalmodel is developed and used to predict process performance under various operating conditions mimicking scale-up operations with an eye in generating potable water from groundwater.