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Efficient removal of uranium from aqueous solution in a modified three-dimensional electrokinetic system

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Abstract

A modified electrokinetic system using activated carbon particles was proposed to quickly remove uranium (U). The influences of electrokinetic parameters such as voltage, length of particle electrode, particle electrode ration were studied through batch experiments. The results revealed that the three dimensional electrokinetic (3D-EK) treatment system showed a great potential for uranium removal. The uranium removal efficiency reached above 99% and the residual solution reached the discharge standard when pH = 2, voltage = 25 V,150 g/L of 4 mm particle electrode. The colloidal precipitates generated were detected as Fe(OH)3. Tthe probable removal mechanism is ascribed to the synergy of electromigration, electrocoagulation and adsorption.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFC2902104), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51974163), and the Key Scientific Research Foundation of Hunan Provincial Education Department (18A248), and he Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province (Grants No. 2020JJ5494), the research project of education department of Hunan province(Grants No. 18C0439), and the initial Funds for the Universities of South China (Grants No.190XQD073) .

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  1. School of Resources and Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang, 42100, Hunan, China

    Guicheng He, Xueying Wu, Shuwen Zhang & Shijing Zhong

  2. School of Materials Engineering, Changshu Institute of Technology, Changshu, 215500, Jiangsu, China

    Tao Huang

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He, G., Wu, X., Zhang, S. et al. Efficient removal of uranium from aqueous solution in a modified three-dimensional electrokinetic system. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 331, 1585–1599 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-022-08225-0

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