Kinetics of adsorption of uranium from seawater by humic acids

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Separation Science and Technology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/01496399008050348· OSTI ID:6332625

Heitkamp, D ^[1]; Wagener, K ^[2]

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1. Institut fuer Chemie Der Kernforschungsanlage Juelich (West Germany)
2. Lehrstuhl fuer Biophysik der Technischen Hochschule, Aachen (West Germany)

The kinetics of the adsorption of uranium from seawater by humic acids fixed onto a polymer matrix was measured in a fluidized bed as a function of the grain size of the adsorbent and the flow velocity of the seawater. The adsorption rate was found to be governed by the diffusion of the uranium ions through the hydrodynamic surface layer of the adsorbent which is always formed in laminar flows of liquids. The measured rate constants are interpreted in terms of effective diffusion coefficients of 3.6 {times} 10{sup {minus}5} cm{sup 2}/s for uranyl ions and 1.8 {times} 10{sup {minus}5} cm{sup 2}/s for tricarbonatouranate ions in the surface layer. As a consequence of this kinetic behavior, the geometry of the adsorbent as well as the velocity of the water flow are relevant parameters for the amount of adsorbent needed for a projected extraction rate. This conclusion applies to all adsorption processes where diffusion through the hydrodynamic layer is the rate-determining kinetic step.

• OSTI ID: 6332625
• Journal Information: Separation Science and Technology; (USA), Vol. 25:5; ISSN 0149-6395
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
URANIUM
ADSORPTION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HUMIC ACIDS
KINETICS
MEASURING METHODS
SEAWATER
ACTINIDES
DATA
ELEMENTS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
METALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SORPTION
WATER
400105* - Separation Procedures
540330 - Environment
Aquatic- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
050400 - Nuclear Fuels- Feed Processing