Enhancing the Sorption of Uranyl Ions in the Presence of Carbonate Ions on Zeolite and Mesoporous Materials

In this study the effect of carbonate concentration on the sorption of uranyl ion from wastewaters was investigated. In the presence of carbonate ions, uranyl cation form a stable anionic complex which disturbs the removal of uranyl by cation exchangers such as zeolite P and A. These zeolites were loaded with some cations and investigated for the sorption of the complex. The sorption of uranyl by a surfactant-modified zeolite was investigated too. Because of low selectivity of these samples, a MCM-41/ZSM-5 composite was synthesized and loaded with a cation and the sorption of mentioned complex by composite was also investigated and the results were promising.