Korovin V., Pohorielov Yu., Cortina J. L., Shestak Yu., Valiaiev O. Equilibrium of uranium recovery with ion-exchange resins from the solution simulated radioactively contaminated groundwater
- Details
- Parent Category: Geo-Technical Mechanics, 2025
- Category: Geo-Technical Mechanics, 2025, Issue 172
Geotech. meh. 2025, 172, 86-92
EQUILIBRIUM OF URANIUM RECOVERY WITH ION-EXCHANGE RESINS FROM THE SOLUTION SIMULATED RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER
1M.S. Poliakov Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
2Dniprovsky State Technical University
3Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
UDC 541.49:546.791.6+546.73
Language: English
Abstract. The paper presents the research results of the uranium recovery equilibrium by granular ion exchange resins from the solution that simulated radioactively contaminated groundwater accumulated in the Centralnyi Yar radioactive tailing site at the former Prydniprovsk Chemical Plant (Kamianske, Ukraine), one of the largest Soviet uranium ore processing facilities. This site was among the oldest tailing facilities at this plant; it was commissioned without any engineering protection of the bottom resulting in migration of water contaminated with radionuclides into the local aquifer. Radioactive waste accumulated in it features a strong acidic reaction (pH 2.5 to 4.0). Based on the preliminary study of uranium sorption by different types of sorption materials, ion exchange resins with quaternary ammonium, benzylpyridinium, and iminodiacetic acid functionalities were selected to study the recovery equilibrium. Uranium recovery was studied in a batch mode using the different portion technique by contacting sorbent portions with 20 cm3 of the acidic solution that simulated radioactive water in the Centralnyi Yar tailing facility. Recovery was carried out during for 24 hours at a temperature of 20±2 °C. Uranium concentration in the aqueous phase was measured by photocolorimetry with Arsenazo III at a wavelength of 655 m; uranium content in solid phase was calculated by mass balance. The moisture content in sorbents and the simulated solution acidity were measured according to general procedures. Equilibrium experimental data were processed by Freundlich, Langmuir, and Sips models using non-linear regression; determination factor value was used as a criterion for selecting the best one. Based on the experimental data, it was revealed that ion exchange resin AM-p with quaternary ammonium functionalities and Lewatit MDS TP 208 with iminodiacetic ones featured the highest sorption capacity. Experimental data were also processed using the linearized form of the Dubinin-Radushkevich equation. Sorption characteristic energy (14.87 kJ/mole to 21.68 kJ/mole) has indicated that the ion exchange mechanism involved chemisorption. Basic parameters of uranium equilibrium sorption (constants of mathematical models, maximum sorption capacity, heterogeneity factors) were calculated based on the models used.
Keywords: uranium, sorption, equilibrium, ion exchange resins, simulated solution.
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About the authors:
Korovin Vadym, Ph.D. (Chem.), Head of Laboratory of New Technologies for Raw and Industrial Waste Processing, Department of Elastomeric Component Mechanics in Mining Machines, M.S. Poliakov Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (IGTM of the NAS of Ukraine), Dnipro, Ukraine, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Corresponding author)
Pohorielov Yurii, Senior Researcher at Sorbent Scientific and Pedagogic Center, Dniprovsk State Technical University State Higher Education Institution (DGTU SHEI), Kamianske, Ukraine, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Cortina Jose Luis, PhD (Applied Chemical Sciences), Professor in Chemical Engineering, Barcelona East Engineering School, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Shestak Yurii,Senior Engineerat the Laboratory of New Technologies for Raw and Industrial Waste Processing, Department of Elastomeric Component Mechanics in Mining Machines, M.S. Poliakov Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (IGTM of the NAS of Ukraine), Dnipro, Ukraine, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Valiaiev Oleksandr, Engineerat the Laboratory of New Technologies for Raw and Industrial Waste Processing, Department of Elastomeric Component Mechanics in Mining Machines, M.S. Poliakov Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (IGTM of the NAS of Ukraine), Dnipro, Ukraine, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.