Uranium sorption from waste solutions by Talc Phosphogypsum ferri-silicate synthetic new sorbent

Abstract

Abstract In this investigation, a synthetic Talc Phosphogypsum ferri-silicate TPFS sorbent was prepared by thermal activation then evaluated the uranium ions removal from sulfate waste solution containing uranium. Generally, the synthetic adsorbents from raw and waste materials have a significant attention from scientists because the environmental concern and economic development, particularly, the uranium elimination from radioactive waste solutions. The uranium removal percentage and loading capacity were determined by optimization the conditions of adsorption such as the pH range, adsorbent/adsorbate ratio, uranium concentration of radioactive waste solutions, equilibrium time and temperature. The resultant adsorption efficiency and loading capacity were 87.2% and 375 mg g−1, respectively. The adsorption isothermally was in accordance with Langmuir isotherm model, in addition pseudo-second-order kinetic model, with theoretical capacity of 384.6 and 333 mg g−1, respectively. Uranium (VI) adsorption on TPFS was inhibited at elevated temperatures. The removal of uranium from sulfate waste solution by TPES sorbent according to the thermodynamic functions values was exothermic (∆H of −16.095) and non-spontaneous in nature (∆G of −17.27 at 303 K). In addition, there was a decrease in the randomness at the TPFS/uranium waste solution interface with ∆S value of 3.88.