Transport of U(VI), Th(IV) and lanthanides through cation exchange membrane impregnated with HDEHP-kerosene using electric field

Summary

Electrodialysis has been investigated as a method to enhance the transport of U(VI), Th(IV) and lanthanides through Nafion cation exchange membrane I and impregnated with HDEHP-kerosene II. The recovery factor of U(VI) through Nafion cation exchange membrane with and without the applied electric field was 0.8 and 0.14, respectively. The transport process of U(VI) through ion exchange membrane was studied as a function of variation of nitric acid concentration in the feed solution, HDEHP concentration in the membrane stripping solution concentration, pH of the feed solution and effect of electric field. From this study the cationic flux of U(VI) through Nafion I and impregnated with HDEHP-kerosene II was 5.2 × 10⁻⁸ and 8.7 × 10⁻⁸ g eq cm⁻¹, respectively. The technique of electrodialysis is efficient in preconcentration of U(VI) to 2.8 fold of the initial concentration. The recovery factors of lanthanide elements La(III), Eu(III) and Er(III) through the systems I and II were 0.8 in system I and 0.86, 0.8 and 0.73 in system II, respectively. The recovery factors of La(III), Eu(III), Er(III) and U(VI) through the system II were 0.82, 0.75, 0.71 and 0.27, respectively. The recovery factor of Th(IV) and U(VI) at pH = 1.5 was found to be 0.99 and 0.3, respectively.