Uranium(VI) Sorption from Liquid Waste Solution Using Functionalized Polyurethane Polymer: Kinetic and Isotherm Characterizations
W. M. Youssef, A. E. M. Hussein, Ahmed Taha, M. M. El-Maadawy
Abstract
The removal of hazardous metal ions from liquid waste effluents is very important for water as well as environmental security. In this regard, this article discusses the adsorption of hexavalent uranium U(VI) from aqueous solutions onto polyether type polyurethane foam in detail (PUF). SEM and FTIR measurements were used to characterize PUF prior to and after U(VI) adsorption, and batch-type experiments were used to investigate the effect of various parameters on adsorption efficiency, including pH, metal-ion concentration, temperature, and contact time. The sorption experimental data have been described well with pseudo-second-order kinetic mathematical equations. The Langmuir isotherm model accurately described the equilibrium process which declare that the uranium sorption is monolayer and homogeneous process. The sorption capacity of conventional polyurethane foam was 26.3 mg g–1. Nitric acid (0.1 M) has been applied effectively for the desorption of U(VI) from the loaded sorbent. PUF material exhibit stable performance for five cycles of sorption/ desorption processes. The displayed results demonstrate that PUF may be used as a proper material for uranium sorption from real matrix samples.