Recovery of uranium (VI) from aqueous effluents by an NaX zeolite and NaX modified by Na2SO4
Abstract
This work aims to develop innovative materials that promote optimal uranium recovery. It focuses on the modification of NaX zeolite by sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) by hydrothermal means, then used as an adsorbent for uranyl ions. Analytical techniques such as X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption and thermal analysis were used to characterize the structural and textural properties of the synthesize and modified material. The kinetics, adsorption isotherms and desorption cycle of NaX, NaX-Na2SO4 zeolites were studied to evaluate their potential for uranium adsorption. The experimental results indicate that the uranium adsorption capacity was improved from 23 mgU/g for NaX to 35 mgU/g for NaX-Na2SO4 in the concentration range of 10-300 mg/L in U, under the optimal conditions: pH 2.0, room temperature, initial concentration of 100 mg/L in U, (S/L) ratio of 10g/L and 7g/L, and contact time of 3h and 2h respectively for NaX and NaX-Na2SO4. The kinetic study revealed that the recovery of uranyl ions follows a pseudo-second-order model and the adsorption equilibrium data fit better to the Langmuir model for both materials. Desorption using 0,5 N HNO3 solution resulted in approximately 90% recovery of uranyl ions after one treatment cycle using the modified NaX zeolite.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Faiza Oudjer , Sihem Khemaissia , Fatiha Bendjeriou , Ahmed Rami Khenich , Leila Mohellebi , Bennemla Messaoud , Hadil Kadi , Lila Boussouf
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