Effect of bi-functionalization silica micro beads on uranium adsorption from synthetic and washing pregnant uranyl solutions

Series of grafting functionalization on silica microspheres were achieved to mono and bi-functionalized polymers for uranium recovery. Bi-functionalization sorbent is the most effective through improving the sorption capacity and other physico-chemical properties. Completed sorption time reached within 25 min for PAO-MAc/SiO2 at pH 4 with loading capacity 0.98 mmol U g−1, while the PFORE and Langmuir fitting the kinetics and isotherm plateaus respectively with completely desorption through 15 min using 0.5 M HCl. The sorbent shows high stability in sorption and desorption through minimum 5 cycles. The synthesized PAO-MAc/SiO2 was successfully applied for uranium recovery from raffinate solution produced in the uranium mining site.