Uranium sorption characteristics onto synthesized pyrite

Adsorption is one of important factors associated with ore-forming process of uranium. In present paper, pyrite crystals were prepared with a hydrothermal method. Uranium adsorption was investigated with a batch method. At pH 6, the maximum sorption capacity is found to be 42.57 mg g^-1. The sorption kinetics has been successfully modeled by pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Langmuir adsorption fits well with the experimental data. Results show that U(VI) is chemically concentrated onto pyrite to form uranium mineral, and sorbed U(VI) can be partially reduced to U(V). The study provides basic data for revealing the ore-forming mechanism of uranium in the presence pyrite. (author)