Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Mesoporous polymer-coated PAN beads for environmental applications: fabrication, characterisation and uranium adsorption studies

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Adsorption of U(VI) and other heavy metals on millimetre sized polymer-coated polyacrylinitrile (PAN) beads was investigated. PAN was used as scaffolds for the polymer layer thus producing porous material of high surface area, improved mechanical strength and improved adsorption capabilities. Extensive U(VI) adsorption studies were undertaken and results modelled using different kinetic and equilibrium models. Parameters including thermodynamic parameters were evaluated. Sorbent capacities were assessed as 124, 16, and 33 mg g−1 for PCP, SPP and Dowex at 60 °C respectively. U(VI) adsorption mechanism for these adsorbents was postulated. Recovered uranium may be used for production of cheap electricity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - uranium, nuclear power issues

  2. Bagherifam S, Lakzian A, Ahmadi SJ, Rahimi MF, Halajnia A (2010) Uranium removal from aqueous solutions by wood powder and wheat straw. J Radioanal Nucl Chemistry 283:289–296

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Liang X, Zhang Y, Xu Y, Tan X, Hou W, Wang L, Sun Y (2013) Sorption of metal cations on layered double hydroxides. Colloids Surf A 433:122–131

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Ji F, Li C, Xu J, Liu P (2013) Dynamic adsorption of Cu(II) from aqueous solutions by zeolite/cellulose acetate blend fiber in fixed bed. Colloids Surf A 434:88–94

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Dhiwar C, Tiwari A, Bajpai AK (2013) Nano-iron oxide-encapsulated chitosan microspheres as novel adsorbent for the removal of Ni(II) ions from aqueous solution. Res Chem Intermed 39:2989–3009

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hua M, Zhang S, Pan B, Zhang W, Lv L, Zhang Q (2012) Heavy metal removal from water/wastewater by nanosized metal oxides: a review. J Haz Mater 211–212:317–331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. An F, Gao B, Huang X, Zhang Y, Li Y, Xu Y, Zhang Z, Gao J, Chen Z (2013) Selective removal of Al(III) from Pr(III) and Nd(III) rare earth solution using surface imprinted polymer. React Funct Polym 73:60–65

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Saberi R, Nilchi A, Garmarodi SR (2010) Adsorption characteristic of 137Cs from aqueous solution using PAN-based sodium titaosilicate composite. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 284:461–469

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Aly Z, Luca V (2013) Uranium extraction from aqueous solution using dried and pyrolyzed tea and coffee wastes. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 295(2):889–900

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Zhang Z, Nie W, Li Q, Xiong G, Gao X, Liu Y (2013) Removal of U(VI) from aqueous solutions by carboxyl-rich hydrothermal carbon spheres through low-temperature heat treatment in air. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 298:361–368

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Moon J-K, Jung C-H, Lee C-H, Kim H-T, Shul Y-G (2002) Preparation of PAN-Zeolite 4A composite ion exchanger and its uptake behaviour for Sr and Cs ions in acid solution. Korean J Chem Eng 19(5):838–842

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Mann NR, Todd TA, Tranter TJ, Sebesta F (2001) Development of novel composite sorbents for the removal of actinides, from the environment and analytical solutions. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 254:41–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Saberi R, Nilchi A, Garmarodi SR, Zarghami R (2010) Adsorption characteristic of 137Cs from aqueous solution using PAN based sodium titanosilicate composite. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 284:461–469

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Yusan S, Erenturk S (2011) Adsorption characterization of strontium on PAN/Zeolite composite adsorbent. World J Nucl Sci Technol 1:6–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Sebesta F, John J, Motl A, Stamberg K (1995) Evaluation of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as a abinding polymer for absorbers used to treat liquid radioactive wastes. Contractor report prepared by Sandia National Laboratories, pp 1–46

  16. Meng Y, Gu D, Zhang F, Shi Y, Cheng L, Feng D, Wu Z, Chen Z, Wan Y, Stein A, Zhao D (2006) A family of highly ordered mesoporous polymer resin and carbon structures from organic-organic self assembly. Chem Mater 18:4447–4464

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Aly Z, Davis J, Hanley T (2012) Fabrication and characterisation of mesoporous polymer-coated polyacrylonitrile beads and subsequent carbon structures. In: Proceedings of the Small Angle X-ray Scattering conference (SAS 2012) hosted by ANSTO on 18–23 November 2012 at Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia. Published (ISBN 1 921268 15 8) by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation—extended abstract and poster 2012

  18. Fouad HK, Bishay AF (2010) Uranium uptake from acidic solutions using synthetic titanium and magnesium adsorbents. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 283:765–772

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Yamamoto M, Sakaguchi H, Kofuji H (2010) Uranium in acidic mine drainage at the former Ogoya mine in Ishikawa prefecture of Japan. J Radioanal Nucl Chemistry 283:699–705

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Nogami M, Sugiyama Y, Kawasaki T, Harada M, Morita Y, Kikuchi T, Ikeda Y (2010) Adsorptivity of polyvinylpolypyrrolidone for selective separation of U(VI) from nitric acid media. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 283:541–546

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Aly Z, Graulet A, Scales N, Hanley T (2014) Removal of aluminium from aqueous solutions using PAN-based adsorbents: characterisation, kinetics, equilibrium and thermodynamic studies. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21:3972–3986. doi:10.1007/s11356-013-2305-6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Xue TJ, McKinney MA, Wilkie CA (1997) The thermal degradation of polyacrylonitrile. Polym Degrad Stab 58:193–202

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Bursali EA, Merdivan M, Yurdakov M (2010) Preconcentration of uranium(VI) and thorium(VI) from aqueous solutions using low-cost abundantly available sorbent. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 283:471–476

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Bhattacharya K, Venkobachar C (1984) Removal of Cd(II) by activated carbon adsorption. J Environ Eng Div AXE 110:110–122

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Saeed A, Akhter MW, Iqbal M (2005) Removal and recovery of heavy metals from aqueous solution using papaya wood as a new biosorbent. Sep Purif Technol 45:25–31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Lagergren S (1898) Zur theorie der sogenannten adsorption geloster stoffe. K Sven Vetenskapsakad Handl Band 24(4):1–39

    Google Scholar 

  27. McKay G, Ho YS, Ng JCY (1999) Biosorption of copper from waste waters : a review. Sep Purif Methods 28(1):87–125

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Ho YS, McKay G (1999) Pseudo-second order model for sorption processes. Process Biochem 34:451–465

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Gupta SS, Bhattacharya KG (2011) Kinetics of adsorption of metal ions on organic materials: a review. Adv Colloids Interface Sci 162:39–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Azizian S (2004) Kinetic models of sorption: a theoretical analysis. J Colloid Interface Sci 276:47–52

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. El-Naas MH, Abu Al-Rub F, Ashour I, Al Marzouqi M (2007) Effect of competitive interference of the biosorption of lead(II) by Chlorella vulgaris. Chem Eng Process 46:1391–1399

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Tempkin MJ, Pyzhev V (1940) Kinetics of ammonia synthesis on promoted iron catalysts. Acta Pysicochim URSS 12:217–222

    Google Scholar 

  33. Han R, Zou W, Wang Y, Zhou L (2007) Removal of U(VI) from aqueous solutions by manganese oxide coated zeolite; discussion of adsorption isotherms and pH effect. J Environ Radioact 93:127–143

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Yuan L, Liu Y, Shi W, Lv Y, Lan J, Zhao Y, Chai Z (2011) High performance phosphante-functionalized mesoporous silica for U(VI) sorption from aqueous solutions. Dalton Trans 40:7446–7453

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Liu Y, Yuan L, Yuan Y, Lan J, Li Z, Feng Y, Zhao Y, Chai Z, Shi W (2012) A high efficient sorption of U(VI) from aqueous solution using amino-functionalized SBA-15. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 292:803–810

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Yuan L, Liu Y, Shi W, Li Z, Lan J, Feng Y, Zhao Y, Yuan Y, Chai Z (2012) A novel mesoporous material for uranium extraction, dihydroimidazole functionalised SBA-15. J Mater Chem 22:17019–17026

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Yousefi SR, Ahmadi SJ, Shemirani F, Jamali MR, Salvati-Niasari M (2009) Simultaneous extraction and preconcentration of uranium and thorium in aqueous samples by new modified mesoporous silica prior to inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry determination. Talanta 80(1):212–217

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Falk J, Bodman R (2006) Uranium enrichment (energyscience.org.au), in Fact sheet 072006

  39. U.S. Energy Legislation May Be “Renaissance” for Nuclear Power, www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aXb5iuqdZoD4&refer=us

  40. Nuclear waste Pools in North Carolina 2010, http://www.projectcensored.org/top-stories/articles/4-nuclear-wate-pools-in-north-carolina/

  41. Nuclear power, http://www.ncwarn.org/?cat=18, 2013

  42. Sturgis S (2010) Investigation: Revelations about Three Mile Island disaster raise doubts over nuclear plant safety, http://www.southernstudies.org/2009/04/post-4.html

Download references

Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to V. Luca for assistance in resol synthesis, T. Cao, S. Deen, Clint Jennison and I. Karatchevtseva for technical assistance, and ANSTO Waste Operations for the use of their ICP-OES instrumentation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Materials Engineering, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC, NSW, 2232, Australia

    Z. Aly, N. Scales, J. Davis & G. Lumpkin

Authors
  1. Z. Aly
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. N. Scales
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Davis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. G. Lumpkin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Z. Aly.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Aly, Z., Scales, N., Davis, J. et al. Mesoporous polymer-coated PAN beads for environmental applications: fabrication, characterisation and uranium adsorption studies. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 311, 43–57 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-4962-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-4962-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation