Sorption of rhenium and uranium by strong base anion exchange resin from solutions with different anion compositions

The results of joint uranium and rhenium sorptions from the solutions with strong base anion exchange resin Ambersep A920U (herein after A920), are presented in the paper. Effect of salt form (sulfate, chloride, nitrate, hydroxide), nature of sulfate, nitrate, and chloride containing compounds (acids, their sodium and zinc salts), sodium carbonate and ammonium hydrocarbonate and their concentration in the solutions (1–1000 mol/m3) to sorption ability of the metals were studied in static conditions.It was found that А920 anionite sorb the metals from the solutions differently. Rhenium is sorbed with the anion exchange resin of all salt forms and from the solutions of any composition. The nature of sulfates (acid, salts) has different effects: sulfuric acid better suppresses rhenium sorption as compared to that for zinc and sodium sulfates. The increase of sulfate concentration from 1 to 1000 mol/m3 reduces sorption of rhenium gradually and steeply. The nature of nitrates and chlorides does not affect sorption ability of rhenium but high concentration of the compounds depresses its sorption. Rhenium sorption from carbonate and hydrocarbonate solutions proceeds similarly to that for sulfate solutions. Rhenium is sorbed better from sodium carbonate solutions than from ammonium hydrocarbonate solutions.Uranium is well sorbed with the anion exchange resin in sulfate form and badly with the anionite in nitrate and chloride forms. Uranium is sorbed only from sulfate, carbonate and hydrocarbonate solutions in contrary to rhenium. Sorption ability of uranium at concentrations from 1 to 1000 mol/m3 is growing in contrary to rhenium, however at higher concentrations sorption ability is declining similarly to that for rhenium. The following groups were registered in the IR-spectra of saturated anion exchange resin: SO42 −, HSO4−, NO3−, HCO3−, and CO32 − together with rhenium and uranium groups.Different sorption abilities of the metals were explained by their ion state in the solutions.

► Rhenium is sorbed with the anion exchange resin Ambersep A920U of all salt forms.
► Rhenium is sorbed from the solutions of any anion composition.
► Uranium is sorbed only from sulfate, carbonate and hydrocarbonate solutions.
► Different sorption abilities of the metals were explained by their ion state.