Adsorption of U(VI) and Th(IV) Ions by Surfactant- Modified Diatomite

Diatomite (DT) and the modified diatomite with hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (HDTMABr) were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermal gravimetric analysis, X- ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. Adsorption isotherms were studied at different temperatures 25.0 , 35.0 and 45.0 . The Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Raduskevich (D-R) adsorption models equations were applied and the proper constants were derived. Recovery of Th(IV) and U(VI) ions after adsorption was carried out by treatment of the loaded on DT and DT-HDTMABr with 1M HNO3 and 1M EDTA. The best percent recovery for Th (IV) was (71.788%) for DT when 1MHNO3 was used, while for U(VI) (99.162%) for DT-HDTMABr when 1M EDTA was used.

Autorentext

Slam Salameh, M.Sc. and B.Sc. of Environmental Chemistry from University of Jordan. He is currently Teacher of Chemistry at The Minstry of Education, Amman, Jordan.