Kinetics and Thermodynamics of Uranium (VI) Adsorption onto Humic Acid Derived from Leonardite

Fande Meng, Guodong Yuan, Steven L. Larson, John H. Ballard, Jeremy R. White, Zikri Arslan and Fengxiang X. Han
Additional contact information
Fande Meng: School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing 526061, China
Guodong Yuan: School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing 526061, China
Steven L. Larson: U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS 39180-6199, USA
John H. Ballard: U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS 39180-6199, USA
Jeremy R. White: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, USA
Zikri Arslan: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, USA
Fengxiang X. Han: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, USA

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 9, 1-12

Abstract: Humic acid (HA) is well known as an inexpensive and effective adsorbent for heavy metal ions. However, the thermodynamics of uranium (U) adsorption onto HA is not fully understood. This study aimed to understand the kinetics and isotherms of U(VI) adsorption onto HA under different temperatures from acidic water. A leonardite-derived HA was characterized for its ash content, elemental compositions, and acidic functional groups, and used for the removal of U (VI) from acidic aqueous solutions via batch experiments at initial concentrations of 0–100 mg·L −1 at 298, 308 and 318 K. ICP-MS was used to determine the U(VI) concentrations in solutions before and after reacting with the HA. The rate and capacity of HA adsorbing U(VI) increased with the temperature. Adsorption kinetic data was best fitted to the pseudo second-order model. This, together with FTIR spectra, indicated a chemisorption of U(VI) by HA. Equilibrium adsorption data was best fitted to the Langmuir and Temkin models. Thermodynamic parameters such as equilibrium constant (K 0 ), standard Gibbs free energy (ΔG 0 ), standard enthalpy change (ΔH 0 ), and standard entropy change (ΔS 0 ), indicated that U(VI) adsorption onto HA was endothermic and spontaneous. The co-existence of cations (Cu 2+ , Co 2+ , Cd 2+ and Pb 2+ ) and anions (HPO 4 2− and SO 4 2− ) reduced U(VI) adsorption. The high propensity and capacity of leonardite-derived HA adsorbing U(VI) suggests that it has the potential for cost-effective removal of U(VI) from acidic contaminated waters.

Keywords: humic acid; uranium (VI); FTIR; adsorption; chemisorption (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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