Optimization of thorium solvent extraction process from feed solution with Cyanex 272 by response surface methodology (RSM).

Due to the limited reserves of uranium, the abundance of thorium compared to it and other advantages, the development of the thorium fuel cycle is of interest in different countries. The optimization of thorium extraction from a feed solution produced by Saghand ore with bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) phosphinic acid (Cyanex 272) on a laboratory scale was evaluated by response surface method. The operating variables include Cyanex 272 concentration of 0.001 to 0.2 mol/L, pH of 0 to 2, equilibrium time of 5 to 60 min and aqueous to organic phase ratio of 0.5 to 2.5 were conducted. The value of R2 = 0.9695 and an error of less than 4% indicate the validity of the model. Therefore, the model is in good agreement with the experimental results. It can be said that there are significant interactions between operational parameters, which vindicate different feedbacks of the system in different operational conditions. The results showed that the 4 mol/L sulfuric acid was a suitable agent for recovering thorium ions from the loaded organic phase. In optimum conditions, the thorium purity percentage and thorium stripping efficiency were obtained 98.99 and 94.12%, respectively.

Biosorption of nickel(II) from aqueous solution by brown algae: equilibrium, dynamic and thermodynamic studies.

The biosorption characteristics of nickel(II) ions using the brown algae (Cystoseria indica, Nizmuddinia zanardini, Sargassum glaucescens and Padina australis) were investigated. Experimental parameters affecting the biosorption process such as pH level, contact time, initial metal concentration and temperature were studied. The equilibrium data fitted very well to the Langmuir adsorption model in the concentration range of nickel(II) ions and at all the temperatures studied. Evaluation of the experimental data in terms of biosorption dynamics showed that the biosorption of nickel(II) onto algal biomass followed the pseudo-second-order dynamics well. The calculated thermodynamic parameters (Delta G degrees, Delta H degrees and DeltaS degrees) showed that the biosorption of nickel(II) ions were feasible, spontaneous and endothermic at the temperature ranges of 293-313 K.

Equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic study of the biosorption of uranium onto Cystoseria indica algae.

Biosorption equilibrium, kinetics and thermodynamics of binding of uranium ions to Cystoseria indica were studied in a batch system with respect to temperature and initial metal ion concentration. Algae biomass exhibited the highest uranium uptake capacity at 15 degrees C at an initial uranium ion concentration of 500 mg l(-1) and an initial pH of 4. Biosorption capacity increased from 198 to 233 mg g(-1) with an decrease in temperature from 45 to 15 degrees C at this initial uranium concentration. The Langmuir isotherm model were applied to experimental equilibrium data of uranium biosorption depending on temperature. Equilibrium data fitted very well to the Langmuir model C. indica algae in the studied concentration range of Uranium ions at all the temperatures studied. The saturation type kinetic model was applied to experimental data at different temperatures changing from 15 to 45 degrees C to describe the batch biosorption kinetics assuming that the external mass transfer limitations in the system can be neglected and biosorption is chemical sorption controlled. The activation energy of biosorption (E(A)) was determined as -6.15 using the Arrhenius equation. Using the thermodynamic equilibrium coefficients obtained at different temperatures, the thermodynamic constants of biosorption (DeltaG degrees , DeltaH degrees and DeltaS degrees ) were also evaluated.