How to Rapidly Evaluate Uranium Adsorption Capacity Using Only a Portable Geiger Counter?

Abstract

AbstractThe development of the nuclear industry has stimulated research in uranium extraction from seawater (UES) by adsorption. However, in practical applications, it's hard to equip various ion concentration measurement instruments for real‐time characterizing uranium adsorption capacity. Given the radioactive property of uranium, if only a Geiger counter is possessed, how it can be utilized to rapidly evaluate uranium adsorption in the adsorbent? This study proposes the Geiger‐Uranium‐Distance model, which establishes correlations among Geiger counter readings, uranium adsorption capacity, and distance, thereby offering a viable approach. While maintaining a constant radius for the adsorbent stack point, during the laboratory phase, the average molecular mass (MA) and the kGg(z) values of the original adsorbent are determined. In practical applications, the surrounding radiation background GE (µSv h−1) is detected. Subsequently, the Geiger counter is vertically positioned above the stacked point of adsorbent after uranium adsorption. Utilizing the measured radiation intensity value G (µSv h−1), and employing the equation , the uranium adsorption capacity Qe can be obtained.