Adsorption behavior of uranyl ions onto amino-type adsorbents prepared by radiation-induced graft copolymerization

Abstract

Amino-type adsorbents (ATAs) were prepared by radiation-induced graft copolymerization of 4-hydroxybutyl acrylate glycidyl ether (HB) onto a polyethylene-coated polypropylene (PE/PP) duplex fiber of a non-woven fabric, and modified with different amines of ethylenediamine (EDA), diethylenetriamine (DETA), triethylenetetramine (TETA) and diethylamine (DEA). The adsorption behavior of uranyl ions onto the ATAs was studied in batch experiments. The effects of the contact time, initial concentration of the ions, temperature, and pH value. The salinity were investigated along with the adsorption kinetics and the adsorption isotherms. The kinetic experimental data followed the pseudo second-order kinetic model, and the adsorption isotherms correlated well with the Langmuir model. The ATAs showed good efficiency in adsorbing uranyl ions, with the best saturation adsorption capacity being 64.26 mg g(-1) for ATA-DETA within 120 min. The temperature dependence of ATA-DETA was quite abnormal and the quickest behavior was obtained at 25 degrees C. ATAs showed good adsorption capacity over a wide pH range of 4.0-8.5, and HCl could be used in the elution process. Salinity of the solution had great effect on the adsorption capacity, 3.5% salinity resulted in a 55% loss of capacity from ATA-DETA. The selectivity of ATA-DETA showed an order of: UO22+approximate to Fe3+ > Zn2+ > VO3- > Co2+ > Ni2+.