Natural silica sand modified by calcium oxide as a new adsorbent for uranyl ions removal from aqueous solutions

Calcium oxide modified El-Zafarana silica sand (CMZS) was prepared as a new adsorbent for U(VI) removal from aqueous solutions in a series of batch experiments. The new adsorbent CMZS was characterized by different analysis techniques SEM, EDX, XRD, and FTIR. The influence of many parameters on the removal process like; effect of pH, contact time, U(VI) initial concentration and temperature on U(VI) removal were investigated. Kinetic experiments showed that U(VI) removal on CMZS followed pseudo-second-order kinetics model appropriately and the equilibrium data agreed well with the Langmuir isotherm model. Kinetics and isothermal data reveal the chemisorption process of U(VI) on CMZS. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔH ^circle, ΔS ^circle, ΔG ^circle) were evaluated from temperature dependent adsorption data and the U(VI) removal on CMZS was found to be endothermic and spontaneous in nature. U(VI) desorption from CMZS was studied by a simple acid treatment. The results indicate that CMZS is an effective adsorbent for U(VI) from aqueous solutions.