Abstract

LOPEZ MUNOZ, Beatriz Eugenia; DURAN BLANCO, Juana María; ITURBE GARCIA, José Luis  and  OLGUIN GUTIERREZ, María Teresa. Uranium Sorption on "Tezontle" Volcanic Rock. J. Mex. Chem. Soc [online]. 2009, vol.53, n.4, pp.239-242. ISSN 1870-249X.

It is described a study that demonstrates that hexavalent uranium ions were sorbed by the naturally occurring mineral using a batch technique. This mineral is found in abundant quantities in Mexico. Our study focused on the separation of UVI from synthetic aqueous systems of both H₂O-UO₂(NO₃)₂.6H₂O (acid) and H₂O-Na₄[UO₂(CO₃)₃] (basic). The chemical speciation was performed by using high voltage electrophoresis, and the uranium content was determined by UV-Vis Spectroscopy. The quantified U(VI) sorption by tezontle from acidic and basic systems was 2.72 and 1.68 µmol/g, respectively, and the sorption behavior is discussed considering the surface charge of the tezontle at different pH values based on the point of zero charge characteristic of this material.

Keywords : Uranium; Sorption; Tezontle; Electrophoresis.