Uranium Adsorption Properties of Hydrous Titanium Oxide Granulated with Polyacrylonitrile

Abstract The performance of hydrous titanium oxide (HTO) adsorber granulated with polyacrylonitrile (PAN) has been studied by a batch method using natural seawater. The adsorber was classified into four classes of 24/28, 28/32, 32/35, and 35/48 mesh, and the seawater temperature was varied from 15 to 30°C. The effects of particle size and seawater temperature on the liquid film mass transfer coefficient and the intraparticle diffusion coefficient of the uranium ion were estimated. It was found that the uranium adsorption rate was dependent on both liquid film mass transfer and intraparticle diffusion for the PAN-HTO adsorber. The equilibrium adsorption capacity was in the range of 175 to 127 μg-U/g-AD at 30°C. Particle size of PAN-HTO adsorber had no distinct influence on the adsorption capacity and rates. Both adsorption capacity and rates increased with increasing seawater temperature.