Sorption of uranyl(VI) cations on suspended silicate: effects of N-donor ligands, carboxylic acids, organic cosolvents, and metal ions

Sorption of uranyl ion, UO22+, on silicate particles (3.00g/L) was studied in sodium perchlorate solution as a function of pcH and ionic strength at 298 K. The effects of different ligands (e.g., N-donors, carboxylic acids) on the uranyl sorption were investigated. At I = 0.20 M (NaClO4), uranyl sorption on silicate increased from ca. 6% (pcH 3.0) to ca. 99% (at pcH 6.5), above which a small decrease was observed. A synergistic enhancement in uranyl sorption was observed in the presence of N-donor ligands such as 1,10-phenanthroline and ethylenediamine in the pcH range 3 to 4.5 as compared to that in the absence of ligands. Carboxylic acids inhibited the sorption in the order: citric acid > malonic acid > nitrilotriacetic acid > iminodiacetic acid > sulfosalicylic acid > succinic acid > glycolic acid. The presence of organic cosolvents such as dimethylsulfoxide, glycerol and tetrahydrofuran had no significant influence on the uranyl sorption profile. Uranyl sorption decreased marginally in the presence of 1.00 x 10-3 M Eu(III). (orig.)