Uranium sorption from commercial phosphoric acid using kaolinite and metakaolinite

Uranium sorption from commercial phosphoric acid was carried out onto kaolinite and metakaolinite. The different factors affecting uranium adsorption have been investigated. The obtained results show that, the sorption process is applicable for the high strength phosphoric acid, 40% P₂O₅, and diluted phosphoric acid, 20% P₂O₅, but it preferred to the diluted phosphoric acid. The kinetic models applied to the sorption rate data were evaluated for Lagergren first order and the pseudo second order models. From the results, the uranium sorption from commercial phosphoric acid, 40% P₂O₅, onto kaolinite and metakaolinite was found to occur through physical sorption process. (author)