article · Colloids and Interfaces
Nuclear energy generation requires reliable supplies of uranium, driving interest in affordable and accessible techniques to extract and separate the metal from raw ores. Mesoporous inorganic cation exchangers offer an efficient option to simplify production and lower processing costs. A nano-structured mesoporous sodium zirconium phosphate cation exchanger was prepared to separate and extract uranyl ions from real sample solutions. Comprehensive physical and chemical evaluations confirmed the structure, surface charge, and porous nature of the synthesised material. Adsorption tests established that the uranyl ion uptake follows a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Thermodynamic evaluations revealed negative free energy values, confirming that the extraction process is spontaneous and feasible. Furthermore, the exchanger demonstrated functional durability, undergoing regeneration using either dilute nitric acid or hydrochloric acid across seven successive operating cycles.
Expanding nuclear electricity generation depends on efficient and cost-effective methods to extract uranium from mineral ores. Developing reusable inorganic materials can streamline chemical extraction and reduce operational expenses. Because this cation exchanger operates spontaneously and can be regenerated repeatedly with common acids, it offers a promising route towards cleaner and more sustainable uranium recovery in mineral processing.
This technology targets uranium extraction facilities and nuclear fuel processing industries seeking cost-effective separation methods for ore leach solutions. The material has been fabricated, characterised, and tested on real samples in laboratory conditions, demonstrating reusability over seven cycles. It currently sits at an applied research stage, requiring larger-scale synthesis, pilot testing in continuous-flow environments, and economic comparison against standard commercial resins before industrial deployment can occur.
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As the demand for uranium production-based energy worldwide has been increasing in the last decades to maintain nuclear growth for electricity production, there are great efforts towards developing an easy and inexpensive method for uranium extraction and separation from its ores. For this purpose, mesoporous inorganic cation exchangers provide an efficient separation technology that can help streamline production and lower overall cost. This study describes the development of nano-structured mesoporous sodium zirconium phosphate (NaZrP-CEX) for separation and extraction of uranyl ions from real samples. The fabricated NaZrP-CEX was well characterized by various techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), N2 adsorption/desorption, Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential). The kinetics/thermodynamic behaviors of uranyl ion adsorption into NaZrP-CEX from an aqueous solution were minutely studied. The kinetic studies showed that the pseudo-second order model gave a better description for the uptake process. The negative value of ΔG indicate high feasibility and spontaneity of adsorption. Finally, mesoporous NaZrP-CEX can be regenerated using both of HNO3 (0.05 M) or HCl (1 M) up to seven cycles of operation.
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DOI: 10.3390/colloids3040061
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