Efficient removal of uranium from diluted aqueous solution with hydroxypyridone functionalized polyethylene nonwoven fabrics. (June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Mingxing; Yuan, Mengjia; Zhang, Maojiang; Wang, Minglei; Chen, Junchang; Li, Rong; Qiu, Long; Feng, Xinxin; Hu, Jiangtao; Wu, Guozhong
• Is Part Of: Radiation physics and chemistry. Volume 171(2020:Jun.)
• Publication Date: 2020-06
• Subjects: Radiation graft technology -- Low uranium concentration -- Hydroxypyridone groups -- Polyethylene nonwoven fabric -- Adsorption; Radiation chemistry -- Periodicals; Radiometry -- Periodicals; Radiation -- Periodicals; Chimie sous rayonnement -- Périodiques; 539.2
• DOI: 10.1016/j.radphyschem.2020.108742
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0969-806X

Abstract

Abstract: It is still a challenge that directly reducing the uranium concentration of wastewater or radioactive wastes by adsorption to or below the criterion (30 ppb), especially from the system of low uranium concentration due to weak affinity and bad collection. Herein we have successfully introduced hydroxypyridone (HOPO) groups onto polyethylene nonwoven fabric (PENWF) surface denoted as PENWF-HOPO by radiation graft technology and follow-up two-step chemical reactions to deeply remove uranium from low-concentration (500 ppb) aqueous solutions. The chemical structures, surface morphologies, and thermal stabilities of the original and modified PENWF were characterized in detail by FT-IR, XPS, SEM, and TGA, with the results indicating successful preparation and good thermal stability of the adsorption material used under ambient conditions. Batch adsorption results show that the adsorbent removes the uranium almost completely within 12 h in a wide pH (3–10) range, and the adsorption obeys the Langmuir isotherm. Desorption and regeneration confirms its excellent regeneration and reusability (5 cycles). Importantly, this adsorbent could efficiently remove uranium (more than 97% removal ratio) from diluted aqueous solution, in which contains a serial of competing metal ions (La 3+, Cr 3+, Ba 2+, Mn 2+, Pb 2+, Ni 2+, Co 2+, Cu 2+, Zn 2+, Sr 2+, Cs + ) or high NaF, Na2 SO4, and NaH2 PO4 concentrations (40 g/L). Highlights: Hydroxypyridone (HOPO) groups were first grafted onto PENWF by radiation technology. PENWF-HOPO removes low uranium concentration completely in a wide pH (3–10) range. PENWF-HOPO efficiently removes uranium from complex diluted aqueous solution. PENWF-HOPO has excellent regeneration and reuse for low uranium concentration removal.