Adsorption of uranium(VI) onto Ulva sp.-sepiolite composite

WOS: 000261971700029Ulva sp. and sepiolite were used to prepare composite adsorbent. The adsorption of uranium(VI) from aqueous solutions onto Ulva sp.-sepiolite has been studied by using a batch adsorber. The parameters that affect the uranium(VI) adsorption, such as solution pH, initial uranium(VI) concentration, and temperature, have been investigated and the optimum conditions determined. The adsorption patterns of uranium on the composite adsorbent followed the Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherms. The Freundlich, Langmuir, and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) models have been applied and the data correlate well with Freundlich model. The sorption is physical in nature (sorption energy, E = 4.01 kJ/mol). The thermodynamic parameters such as variation of enthalpy Delta H, variation of entropy Delta S and variation of Gibbs free energy Delta G were calculated from the slope and intercept of lnK (d) vs. 1/T plots. Thermodynamic parameters (Delta H (ads) = -22.17 kJ/mol, Delta S (ads) = -17.47 J/mol center dot K, Delta G (o) (ads) (298.15 K) = -16.96 kJ/mol) show the exothermic heat of adsorption and the feasibility of the process. The results suggested that the Ulva sp-sepiolite composite adsorbent is suitable as a sorbent material for recovery and biosorption/adsorption of uranium ions from aqueous solutions