Uranium Preconcentration with a Chelating Sorbent Based on Maleic Anhydride–Styrene Copolymer

Abstract

The ability of a chelating sorbent based on maleic anhydride–styrene copolymer to take up uranium was studied. The sorbent was prepared by modification of the copolymer with Norsulfazolum in the presence of formaldehyde. The dependence of the sorption capacity on the solution acidity was studied. At pH 5, the degree of sorption passes through a maximum. As the uranium concentration in the solution is increased, the amount of the sorbed metal increases, reaching a maximum at a concentration of 8 × 10^–3 M (SC = 1253 mg g^–1). The influence of the solution ionic strength on the uranium sorption was examined. The ionic strength of up to 0.4 M does not affect the sorption, but as the ionic strength is increased further, the sorption decreases, first gradually and then sharply. The desorption of the sorbed uranium ions was studied. The effect of mineral and organic acids on the uranium desorption was examined. The desorption is maximal with HClO₄.