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Adsorption of uranium from aqueous solution using biochar produced by hydrothermal carbonization

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Abstract

The ability of biochar produced by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) has been explored for the removal and recovery of uranium from aqueous solutions. The micro-morphology and structure of HTC were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The influences of different experimental parameters such as solution pH, initial concentration, contact time, ionic strength and temperature on adsorption were investigated. The HTC showed the highest uranium sorption capacity at initial pH of 6.0 and contact time of 50 min. Adsorption kinetics was better described by the pseudo-second-order model and adsorption process could be well defined by the Langmuir isotherm. The thermodynamic parameters, △G°(298 K), △H° and △S° were determined to be −14.4, 36.1 kJ mol−1 and 169.7 J mol−1 K−1, respectively, which demonstrated the sorption process of HTC towards U(VI) was feasible, spontaneous and endothermic in nature. The adsorbed HTC could be effectively regenerated by 0.05 mol/L HCl solution for the removal and recovery of U(VI). Complete removal (99.9 %) of U(VI) from 1.0 L industry wastewater containing 15.0 mg U(VI) ions was possible with 2.0 g HTC.

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Acknowledgments

This work is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 21101024), Key Project of Chinese Ministry of Education (Grant No. 211086), Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province (No. 2010GQH0015), Sci. & Tech. Project of Jiangxi Provincial department of education (No. GJJ11139), Open Project Foundation of the Key Laboratory of Radioactive Geology and Exploration Technology Fundamental Science for National Defense (East China Institute of Technology) (2010RGET08), Open Project Foundation of the Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education (China University of Geosciences) (CUGNGM201205), and Open Project Foundation of the State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology (China University of Geosciences) (BGEG201105).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Nuclear Resources and Environment, East China Institute of Technology, Ministry of Education, Nanchang, 330013, People’s Republic of China

    Zhi-bin Zhang, Xiao-hong Cao, Ping Liang & Yun-hai Liu

  2. Key Laboratory of Radioactive Geology and Exploration Technology Fundamental Science for National Defense, East China Institute of Technology, Fuzhou, 344000, People’s Republic of China

    Zhi-bin Zhang, Xiao-hong Cao, Ping Liang & Yun-hai Liu

  3. Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, People’s Republic of China

    Zhi-bin Zhang

  4. State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, People’s Republic of China

    Zhi-bin Zhang & Ping Liang

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  1. Zhi-bin Zhang
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  2. Xiao-hong Cao
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  3. Ping Liang
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  4. Yun-hai Liu
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Correspondence to Yun-hai Liu.

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Zhang, Zb., Cao, Xh., Liang, P. et al. Adsorption of uranium from aqueous solution using biochar produced by hydrothermal carbonization. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 295, 1201–1208 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-2017-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-2017-2

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