Removal of uranyl ions from aqueous solutions using barium titanate

Abstract

Remediation of water sources contaminated with radioactive waste products is a major environmental issue that demands new and more efficient technologies. For this purpose, we report a highly efficient ion-exchange material for the removal of radioactive nuclides from aqueous solutions. The kinetic characteristics of adsorption of uranyl ions on the surface of barium titanate were investigated using a spectrophotometric method under a wide range of conditions. By controlling the pH it was possible to exert fine control over the speciation of uranium, and by optimizing the temperature and grain size of the exchanger, almost total removal was achieved in a matter of just hours. The highest efficiency (>90 % removal) was realized at high temperature (80 °C). Moreover, the effect of competitive ion adsorption from a range of different cations and anions was quantified. Adsorption was found to follow first-order kinetics and both Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms could be applied to this system. The results of a mathematical treatment of the kinetic data combined with the observation that adsorption was independent of stirring speed and dependent on the ion-exchanger grain size, indicate that the dominant mechanism influencing adsorption is particle spreading. The adsorption behavior was not influenced by exposure to high-intensity gamma radiation, indicating potential for use of this ion-exchanger in systems containing radioactive material. These results will be of use in the development of uranium extraction systems for contaminated water sources.