TY - JOUR
T1 - Removal of U(VI) from nuclear mining effluent by porous hydroxyapatite
T2 - Evaluation on characteristics, mechanisms and performance
AU - Su, Minhua
AU - Tsang, Daniel C.W.
AU - Ren, Xinyong
AU - Shi, Qingpu
AU - Tang, Jinfeng
AU - Zhang, Hongguo
AU - Kong, Lingjun
AU - Hou, Li'an
AU - Song, Gang
AU - Chen, Diyun
PY - 2019/11
Y1 - 2019/11
N2 - The effluents from nuclear mining processes contain relatively high content of radionuclides (such as uranium), which may seriously threaten the environment and human health. Herein, a novel adsorbent, porous hydroxyapatite, was prepared and proven highly efficient for removal of uranyl ions (U(VI)) given its high U(VI) uptake capacity of 111.4 mg/g, fast adsorption kinetics, and the potential stabilization of adsorbed U(VI). A nearly complete removal of U(VI) was achieved by porous HAP under optimized conditions. Langmuir model could well describe the adsorption equilibrium. The data fit well with pseudo-second-order kinetic model, suggesting that U(VI) adsorption is primarily attributed to chemisorption with porous HAP. Intraparticle diffusion analysis showed that the intraparticle diffusion is the rate-limiting step for U(VI) adsorption by porous HAP. After removal by porous HAP, the adsorbed U(VI) ions were incorporated into tetragonal autunite, which has a low solubility (log Ksp: −48.36). Our findings demonstrate that the porous HAP can effectively remediate uranium contamination and holds great promise for environmental applications.
AB - The effluents from nuclear mining processes contain relatively high content of radionuclides (such as uranium), which may seriously threaten the environment and human health. Herein, a novel adsorbent, porous hydroxyapatite, was prepared and proven highly efficient for removal of uranyl ions (U(VI)) given its high U(VI) uptake capacity of 111.4 mg/g, fast adsorption kinetics, and the potential stabilization of adsorbed U(VI). A nearly complete removal of U(VI) was achieved by porous HAP under optimized conditions. Langmuir model could well describe the adsorption equilibrium. The data fit well with pseudo-second-order kinetic model, suggesting that U(VI) adsorption is primarily attributed to chemisorption with porous HAP. Intraparticle diffusion analysis showed that the intraparticle diffusion is the rate-limiting step for U(VI) adsorption by porous HAP. After removal by porous HAP, the adsorbed U(VI) ions were incorporated into tetragonal autunite, which has a low solubility (log Ksp: −48.36). Our findings demonstrate that the porous HAP can effectively remediate uranium contamination and holds great promise for environmental applications.
KW - Green/sustainable remediation
KW - Hydroxyapatite
KW - In situ stabilization
KW - Potentially toxic elements
KW - Radionuclide wastewater
KW - Uranium adsorption
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85070288458&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.07.059
DO - 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.07.059
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 31408794
AN - SCOPUS:85070288458
SN - 0269-7491
VL - 254
JO - Environmental Pollution
JF - Environmental Pollution
M1 - 112891
ER -
