Sonochemical ion exchange in RIP (resin-in-pulp) system

Ultrasound has been proved to be a very useful tool in enhancing the reaction rates in a variety of reacting systems. It has successfully increased the conversion, improved the yield, changed the reaction pathway and/or initiated the reaction in biological, chemical and electrochemical systems. In addition, the use of ultrasound may enable operation at milder operating conditions (lower temperatures and pressures), eliminate the need for extra-costly solvents, reduce the number of synthesis steps while simultaneously increasing end yields, permit the use of lower purity reagents and solvents, and/or increase the activity of existing catalysts. On recent years, the study of ultrasonics and sonochemistry has expanded considerably in the field of hydrometallurgy. Especially, the application of sonication for leaching of lean grade uranium has attracted much intention. It has been reported that the collapse of the cavitation bubble near a surface produces an unsymmetrical inrush of fluid to fill the void with the result that a liquid jet is formed, targeted at the surfaces in a heterogeneous solid-liquid situations, which increase mass transfer to the surface by disruption of the interfacial boundary layers. It is understood that this effect could be effective in the enhancement of ionic exchange reaction for uranium separation. Lately, it was revealed that the use of ultrasound give rise to enhancement of ionic exchange rate. In this study, the effect of sonication on the ionic exchange reaction has been examined. Lately, ionic exchange process becomes important for uranium separation and concentration. Especially, development of resin-in-pulp method to eliminate the filtration process for energy-saving makes the use of ionic exchange resin for uranium separation more important. The present work applied the sonication to the uranium extraction/separation with anionic exchange resin and studied the effect of sonication power on the adsorption/desorption rate and selectivity of uranium, and adsorption equilibrium of uranium on resin.