Efficient removal of uranium from acidic mining wastewater using magnetic phosphate composites

Abstract

Uranium mining operations produce large volumes of acidic uranium mining wastewater, necessitating the development of environmentally friendly and recyclable materials for efficient uranium removal and recovery. The current study successfully produced hydroxyapatite (HAP-L) and magnetic phosphate composites (CaFeP-1, CaFeP-2, and FePO4) through a combination of mixing, ultrasonication, hydrothermal precipitation, and calcination methods. The research explores the influence of various parameters such as pH, solid–liquid ratio, contact time, initial uranium concentration, co-existing ions, and recyclability on the uranium removal efficiency of these materials. The findings indicate exceptional uranium adsorption capacities, with CaFeP-1 exhibiting the highest capacity among the materials, especially in acidic environments. Moreover, CaFeP-1 displays strong resistance to interference from other ions and can be recycled multiple times while maintaining high removal rates. Treatment of acidic uranium mining wastewater by CaFeP-1 results in pH adjustment and the reduction of uranium and other ion concentrations, making it a promising solution for comprehensive remediation of acidic uranium mining wastewater. The U(VI) removal mechanism by CaFeP-1 was validated through XRD, FT-IR, and XPS results. The U(VI) removal was attributed to processes such as dissolution-precipitation, surface complexation, and ion exchange. The formation of sodium uranyl phosphate hydrate was identified as a new product following U(VI) abatement by CaFeP-1. In summary, CaFeP-1 shows great potential for the effective treatment of acidic uranium mining wastewater.