Study on the technology for the development of macroporous resin adsorption for purifying uranium effluent

Developing macropore resin for purifying uranium effluent from uranium mines and mills is presented in this paper. A comparison study on adsorption properties of 201X7 strong base anion ion exchange resin, macropore resin TS-25, medium pore resin D263B was carried out. Adsorption rates were in the following order: Macropore>Medium>Gel-type. In acidic medium when adsorption reaches equilibrium, the uranium total distribution coefficients of TS-25, D263, 201X7 and hydroxyoxime resin are 6.33x103, 2.78x103, 1.42x103, 2.1x102, respectively. TS-25 resin, D263 resin, D263B resin and 201x7 resin can be used in a large pH range from 1.8 to 10, but hydroxyoxime resin can only be used in weak alkali or alkaline solution. When the concentration of uranium in effluent is between 11 and 25.4 mg/L, the contact time is about 52 minutes, Breakthrough points for TS-25 resin and D263B resin are 2000 - 2500 and 250 - 500 bed volume number. Saturation bed volume numbers are 4000 - 7600 and 1100 - 2700, respectively. The D263B operating properties in dilute uranium solution were higher. It also shows the best elution property among the four kinds of resin. And TS-25 resin shows a good adsorption property. (author)