Uranium removal from water using cellulose triacetate membranes added with activated carbon

R Villalobos-Rodríguez; M E Montero-Cabrera; H E Esparza-Ponce; E F Herrera-Peraza; M L Ballinas-Casarrubias

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2012.01.017

Uranium removal from water using cellulose triacetate membranes added with activated carbon

Appl Radiat Isot. 2012 May;70(5):872-81. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2012.01.017. Epub 2012 Feb 8.

Authors

R Villalobos-Rodríguez¹, M E Montero-Cabrera, H E Esparza-Ponce, E F Herrera-Peraza, M L Ballinas-Casarrubias

Affiliation

¹ Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados, Chihuahua, Chih., Mexico.

PMID: 22386791
DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2012.01.017

Abstract

Ultrafiltration removal of uranium from water, with composite activated carbon cellulose triacetate membranes (AC-CTA), was investigated. The filtrate was provided by uraninite dissolution with pH=6-8. Removal efficiencies were calculated measuring solutions' radioactivities. Membranes were mainly characterized by microscopy analysis, revealing iron after permeation. Uranyl removal was 35±7%. Chemical speciation indicates the presence of (UO(2))(2)CO(3)(OH)(3)(-), UO(2)CO(3), UO(2)(CO(3))(2)(2-) and Fe(2)O(3)(s) as main compounds in the dissolution, suggesting co-adsorption of uranium and iron by the AC during filtration, as the leading rejection path.