Selective Elution of Uranium from Amidoxime Polymer. I

Abstract

The separative elution of uranium from an amidoxime polymer was examined by the column method with hydrochloric acid solutions. The amidoxime polymer was immersed in seawater for 40 d for preparation of an uranium-loaded polymer sample for the elution experiments; the metal ions adsorbed were Mg(II), Ca(II), Fe(III), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) as well as UO₂(VI). It was found from the pH dependence of elution extent by a batch method that the order of elution pH values is Fe(III) < UO₂(VI) < Cu(II) < Ni(II) < Zn(II) < Ca(II) < Mg(II). In the elution by a column method, Mg(II), Ca(II), Zn(II), and Ni(II) were eluted completely by 0.1 M HC1 and the eluate of enriched uranium was obtained by a succeeding elution with 0.5 or 1 M HC1. This eluate contained Cu(II). and Fe(III), which could be removed in the succeeding step. The elution treatment with hydrochloric acid solutions hardly affected the adsorptivity for uranium in seawater. It was suggested that the elution of uranium with hydrochloric acid solutions from amidoxime polymers is satisfactorily applicable to uranium elution in the recovery of uranium from seawater with amidoxime polymers.