Dynamic removal of uranium by chitosan: influence of operating parameters

Abstract

New wastewater treatments involving biosorption processes are being developed. This work focuses on the dynamic removal of uranium using chitosan in fixed-bed reactors and investigates the main operating parameters: particle size, column size, flow velocity and metal ion concentration. The results confirm the predominant effect of diffusion on the control rate. The optimization of the process should take into account both sorption performances and hydrodynamic behaviour. The process is successfully applied to the treatment of leachates at an abandoned mine site. This study shows that chitosan is an effective sorbent for the treatment and recovery of uranium from dilute effluents.