Synthesis of a hydrotalcite-like compound from oil shale ash and its application in uranium removal

Hydrotalcite Colloidal Stability and Interactions with Uranium(VI) at Neutral to Alkaline pH

In the United Kingdom, decommissioning of legacy spent fuel storage facilities involves the retrieval of radioactive sludges that have formed as a result of corrosion of Magnox nuclear fuel. Retrieval of sludges may re-suspend a colloidal fraction of the sludge, thereby potentially enhancing the mobility of radionuclides including uranium. The colloidal properties of the layered double hydroxide (LDH) phase hydrotalcite, a key product of Magnox fuel corrosion, and its interactions with U(VI) are of interest. This is because colloidal hydrotalcite is a potential transport vector for U(VI) under the neutral-to-alkaline conditions characteristic of the legacy storage facilities and other nuclear decommissioning scenarios. Here, a multi-technique approach was used to investigate the colloidal stability of hydrotalcite and the U(VI) sorption mechanism(s) across pH 7-11.5 and with variable U(VI) surface loadings (0.01-1 wt %). Overall, hydrotalcite was found to form stable colloidal suspensions between pH 7 and 11.5, with some evidence for Mg²⁺ leaching from hydrotalcite colloids at pH ≤ 9. For systems with U present, >98% of U(VI) was removed from the solution in the presence of hydrotalcite, regardless of pH and U loading, although the sorption mode was affected by both pH and U concentrations. Under alkaline conditions, U(VI) surface precipitates formed on the colloidal hydrotalcite nanoparticle surface. Under more circumneutral conditions, Mg²⁺ leaching from hydrotalcite and more facile exchange of interlayer carbonate with the surrounding solution led to the formation of uranyl carbonate species (e.g., Mg(UO₂(CO₃)₃)^2-_(aq)). Both X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and luminescence analysis confirmed that these negatively charged species sorbed as both outer- and inner-sphere tertiary complexes on the hydrotalcite surface. These results demonstrate that hydrotalcite can form pseudo-colloids with U(VI) under a wide range of pH conditions and have clear implications for understanding the uranium behavior in environments where hydrotalcite and other LDHs may be present.

Removal of U(VI) from nuclear mining effluent by porous hydroxyapatite: Evaluation on characteristics, mechanisms and performance

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.

Effective capture of aqueous uranium from saline lake with magnesium-based binary and ternary layered double hydroxides

Uranium in saline lake brine is a nuclear resource that attracts worldwide attention. Relatively low concentrations (about 0.2 mg L^-1 to 30 mg L^-1) require high affinity for the capture materials. In this paper, magnesium binary layered double hydroxides (MgAl-LDH) and its Fe-induced ternary LDH (MgAlFe-LDH) were synthesized for the extraction of simulated concentrations of U(VI) in the saline lake brine system. Batch experiments have shown that both LDHs have strong affinity towards uranium. MgAl-LDH yielded of stronger affinity in lower U(VI) concentrations (0.2 mg L^-1 to 5 mg L^-1), while MgAlFe-LDH was at higher U(VI) concentrations (5 mg L^-1 to 30 mg L^-1). For current uranium extraction, the affinities of MgAl-LDH and MgAlFe-LDH are more than twice the maximum affinity of other LDHs and LDHs-based materials. Therefore, these two LDHs are suitable for U(VI) extraction with different concentration levels in saline lakes. The capture process followed the pseudo-second-order kinetics with fast adsorption speed, and the coexisting cations have little effect on the extraction rate. Research through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed the main adsorption mechanisms are surface complexation and the interlayer carbonate coprecipitation. This work provides a potential method for U(VI) extraction while reusing the waste magnesium resources in saline lake.

Co–Fe hydrotalcites for efficient removal of dye pollutants via synergistic adsorption and degradation

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with hydrotalcite-like structures containing Co(ii) and Fe(iii) were prepared and used for the removal of direct red 23 (DR23) from water solution.

Enhancing the sorption efficiency of polystyrene by immobilizing MgO and its application for uranium (VI) removal from aqueous solutions

Magnesium oxide immobilized polystyrene (PS/MgO) was prepared by the thermal attachment method for the removal of U(VI) from aqueous solutions. PS/MgO was characterized by different techniques [scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD)]. The effects of pH, adsorbent amount, contact time, initial U(VI) concentration, temperature and co-existing cations on the removal process were investigated by using batch technique. The results showed that the maximum adsorption capacity was 163 (mg g−1) at pH 6 and 293 K. The adsorption kinetics of U(VI) onto PS/MgO followed pseudo-second order and intra-particle kinetic models. The adsorption isotherms obeyed the Freundlich isotherm model. The thermodynamic parameters show that the process is endothermic and spontaneous. PS/MgO is an attractive adsorbent for U(VI) removal from aqueous solutions due to its accessibility, low preparation cost and high removal capacity

Removal of hexavalent chromium from aqueous solution by calcined Zn/Al-LDHs

In this study, Zn/Al-layered double hydroxides (Zn/Al-LDHs) were synthesized by a co-precipitation method and characterized with X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Then the hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) adsorption experiments on calcined Zn/Al-LDHs were carried out to analyze the effects of pH, temperature, adsorption time, initial Cr(VI) concentration and adsorbent dosage on the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions. The maximum adsorption capacity for Cr(VI) on calcined Zn/Al-LDHs under optimal conditions was found to be over 120 mg/g. The kinetic and isotherm of Cr(VI) adsorption on calcined Zn/Al-LDHs can be described with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm, respectively.

Preparation of magnetic calcium silicate hydrate for the efficient removal of uranium from aqueous systems

Preparation of a magnetic adsorbent for uranium with rapidly and effectively adsorption characteristics via sonochemical and in situ growth method.