Uranium extraction from nitrate media using amine functionalized poly acrylate hydrogel / nano silica

Abstract

ABSTRACT Sorption of U (VI) onto novel nano material of amine functionalized poly acrylate hydrogel/nano silica was investigated. In the preparation, tri octyl amine, cyclohexane, poly acrylic acid oleic acid mixed with sodium meta silicate and tri ethanol amine to yield nano particles of amine functionalized poly acrylate hydrogel/nano silica. The capability of the newly adsorbent for uranium sorption was estimated using various controlling variables such as medium pH, uranium concentration, equilibrium time, reaction temperature and the interfering ions. The experimental results showed that, rather than chloride or sulfate, the proper loading capacity was achieved at uranyl nitrate species at pH 1 for 30 minutes stirring at 60°C. Where, the loading capacity was 372.52 mg/g. The pseudo-second-order mechanism fit the U (VI) adsorption kinetics on the sorbent material well, the mechanism of intra-particle diffusion governed the sorption process, and the adsorption equilibrium followed the Langmuir model. The thermodynamic parameters calculated ∆S°, ∆G°, and ∆H°, which indicate that U (VI) sorption process is thermodynamically advantageous, spontaneous, and endothermic. It is a promising and efficient nano adsorbent that could be used for upscaling design and application for U (VI) separation from acidified monazite leach liquor.