Sorption of uranium by cellulose derivatives

Abstract

The sorption behaviour of uranium was investigated by batch and column methods using four cellulose derivatives, two having an amino group and two having an amino group plus a dithiocarboxylate group. All four derivatives showed maximum uranium sorption from pure water in the neutral region or from artificial sea water in the acidic region. In the batch method, quantitative removal of 100 µg of uranium from 50 ml of water at pH 5.0 was achieved by equilibration with 50 mg of any of the four sorbents. The percentage removal under these conditions decreased gradually with increasing concentration of uranium above 100 µg per 50 ml. A similar high percentage removal of uranium was achieved using artificial sea water. In the column method, quantitative removal of 5 µg of uranium from 1 l of water at pH 6.7 was achieved with 200 mg of either of the two sorbents. Similar quantitative removal of uranium was achieved from 1 l of artificial sea water at pH 5.4 with 500 mg of either of the two sorbents. Several 1-and 10-l portions of natural sea water, adjusted to pH 5.0, were passed through the column, which was packed with a mixture of 500 mg of either of the two sorbents and 1 g of cellulose powder. The results indicated that uranium was quantitatively removed from the 1-l portions, while approximately 50% was removed from the 10-l portions.