Uranium(VI) sorption behavior onto amberlite CG-400 anion exchange resin: Effects of pH, contact time, temperature and presence of phosphate

In this paper, uranium sorption onto amberlite CG-400 anion exchange resin in the presence of phosphate anions was studied. The effect of contact time between the sorbent and aqueous solution, pH, initial concentration of uranium and temperature were also investigated. Kinetic studies show that uranium sorption onto amberlite CG-400 resin in the presence of phosphate is a fast process and follows pesudo-second-order kinetics. It was also found that the pH value and the presence of phosphate play very important roles in the uranium sorption onto CG-400 resin. Optimum pH for uranium sorption in the presence of phosphate anions was about 3.5. The experimental sorption isotherm is successfully described by Langmuir and Freundlich models. The maximum uranium sorption capacity was 57.14 and 112.36 mg g−1 in the absence and presence of phosphate anion, respectively.

► Uranium sorption onto amberlite CG-400 anion exchange resin was investigated.
► pH and the presence of phosphate play an important role in the uranium sorption.
► The maximum uranium sorption capacity was 112.36 mg g−1.
► Amberlite CG-400 anion exchange resin is a good candidate for uranium recovery.