Uranium and neodymium biosorption using novel chelating polysaccharide

Abstract

A direct reaction is described to prepare hydrophobic α-aminomethylphosphonic acid as a novel chitosan-based material. It exhibits chelating properties for polyvalent metal ions such as U(VI) and Nd(III) ions. The new sorbent was fully characterized using Elemental analysis, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and FTIR spectra. Different parameters were examined in order to evaluate the optimum conditions for U(VI) and Nd(III) ions biosorption. Sorption mechanisms of metal ions were investigated using kinetic and isotherm models. In addition, the sorbent selectivity was tested for both metal ions together in a binary solution.

Keywords: Biosorption; Chitosan; Uranium.