Sorption of Uranium(VI) and Thorium(IV) Ions from Aqueous Solutions by Nano Particle of Ion Exchanger SnO2

Abstract

Due to the extensive use of nuclear energy and its replacement for fossil fuels in recent decades, the radioactive waste production has increased enormously. The vast majority of the radioactive wastes products, are in the liquid form and consequently their treatment is of great importance. In this paper, tin oxide with nano-structure has been synthesized as an absorbent by the homogenous sedimentation method in the presence of urea, so as to adsorb uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) ions. The results obtained from the XRD, SEM and nitrogen adsorption/desorption analyses on the tin oxide sample showed the cassiterite structure with an average particle size of 30 nanometer and a specific surface area of 27.5 m2/g. The distribution coefficients of uranium and thorium were studied by means of batch method. The effects of different variables such as pH and time of contact between the exchanger and solution were investigated and the optimum conditions for sorption of these ions were determined.

Keywords

• tin oxide nano-particles
• uranium
• thorium
• homogenous sedimentation