Uranium recovery from wet-process phosphoric acid by a commercial ceramic product

Abstract

The present investigation attempted to develop the ceramic adsorbent media in order to remove uranium from crude phosphoric acid (aqueous phase). The adsorption capacity of the studied commercial ceramic sample was determined (about 11 mg U/g ceramic). The relevant factors affecting uranium adsorption on ceramic adsorbent were studied. These involved: contact time, initial uranium concentration, temperature, pH, adsorbent dosage and phosphoric acid concentration. The optimum adsorption conditions were chosen. Also, the equilibrium adsorption isotherms for uranium adsorption on the studied ceramic sample were determined. Uranium removal from crude phosphoric acid by the ceramic adsorbent was studied using columnar technique. The achieved saturation capacity was about 20% of the primarily determined (11 mg U/g ceramic). About 95% of the loaded uranium on the ceramic adsorbent was eluted using NaCl (acidified with H2SO4) as an eluent solution.