In cooperation with the Iranian Nuclear Society

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Chemistry, Payame Noor University, P.O. Box: 19395-4697, Mashed –Iran

2 Materials and Nuclear Fuel Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, P.O. Box: 11365-3486, Tehran - Iran

Abstract

In this study, the removal of Zr (IV) from aqueous solutions was investigated using magnetic Fe3O4@PEG@TBP nanoparticles as a new adsorbent. Experiments were conducted to study the effects of initial pH, amount of adsorbent, shaking time, and initial Zr (IV) concentrations on zirconium sorption efficiency. The sorption of zirconium on Fe3O4@PEG@TBP nanoparticles was pH-dependent, and the optimal pH was 6.0. In kinetics studies, the sorption equilibrium was reached within 10 min, and the experimental data were well fitted by the pseudo-second-order model, and the equilibrium sorption capacities calculated by the model were almost the same as those determined by experiments. The maximum zirconium sorption capacity onto magnetic nanoparticles was estimated to be about 50 mg/g at 25 °C. Sodium acetate, sodium nitrate, sodium fluoride, and ammonium oxalate were used as desorbing agents. The highest values of zirconium desorption (100 %) was achieved using 0.5 M sodium fluoride as the desorbing agent. The present study suggested that this method is simple, fast, and highly efficient for zirconium removal from aqueous solutions by using magnetic nanoparticles.

Highlights

1. J. Gamboge, Zirconium and Hafnium, U.S. Geological Survey” Mineral Commodity Summaries, 192-193 (2008).

 

2. D.O. Voit, In Proceeding of International Solvent Extraction Conference, Belgium, 59 (1980).

 

3. J. Swain, A. Sahoo, B.C. Bhatta, Liquid-liquid Extraction of Zr (IV) from Sulphuric Acid Medium using Tri-n-octyl Amine in Kerosene, European Journal of Chemistry, 9 (3), 222-227 (2018).

 

4. R. Banda, M.S. Lee, Solvent Extraction for the Separation of Zr and Hf from Aqueous Solutions, Separation & Purification Reviews, 44, 199-215 (2015).

 

5. W. Bruchle, et al, Chromatographic Studies of Rf (element 104) with tributylphosphate (TBP), Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 271–273, 300–302 (1998).

 

6. H. Faghihian, M. Kabiri-Tadi, Removal of Zirconium from Aqueous Solution by Modified Clinoptilolite, Journal of Hazardous Materials, 178, 66-73 (2010).

 

7. E. Zolfonoun, et al, Selective and Direct Sorption of Zirconium from Acidic Leach Liquor of Zircon Concentrate by Rice Bran, Minerals Engineering, 23, 755–756 (2010).

 

8. V. Pershina, Theoretical Predictions of Hydrolysis and Complex Formation of Group 4 Elements Zr, Hf, Rf in HF & HCl Solutions, RadioChem Acta,  90, 869-877 (2002).

 

9. A. Rahmati, et al, Study for Extraction and Separation Zirconium from Hafnium in TBP- HCl- HNO3 process, Nuclear Society of Iran, 19th Iranians nuclear conference, Ferdosi University of Mashhad, 1160-1165, (2013).

 

10. Y. Wang, H. Lee, Solvent Extraction of Zirconium and Hafnium from Hydrochloric acid Solutions using Acidic Organophosphorus Extractants and their Mixtures with TOPO, Materials Transactions, 54(8), 1460-1466 (2013).

 

11. S. Fatemi, A.R. Khanchi, M. Kalantari, Separation and purification of Zr and Hf cations from each other bby using new ion exvhange chromatographic method, Journal of Faculty of Engineering (University of Tehran), 40, 147-156 (2006) (In Persion).

 

12. C.B. Elaine, Separation of Zirconium from Hafnium by Ion Exchange, International Nuclear Atlantic Conference. Recife, Brazil, 24-29, (2013).

 

13. L. Nunez, M.D. Kaminski, Magnetically Assisted Chemical Separation Process, Filtration & Seperetion, 351 (1998).

 

14. N. Mansouri, K. Saberyan, M. Noaparast, Evaluation of Kinetic and Isotherm Models of Uranium Extraction from Acid Solutions using Triocthylamine (TOA) Functionalized Magnetite Nanoparticles, 9th Iranian Student Mining EngineeringConference, University of Birjand, 29-31 Oct. (2013).

 

15. M. Bahrami, Synthesis of Magnetic Nanoparticles (Fe3O4) and its Efficiency in Cadmium Removal from Aqueous Solutions, Journal of Water and Waste Water, 3, 54-62 (2012).

 

16. H. Parham, B. Zargar, Fast and Efficient Removal of Mercury from Water Samples using 2-mercaptobenzothiazole Functionalized MNPs, Journal of Hazardous Materials, 205-206, 94-100 (2012).

 

17. I. Langmuir, The Adsorption of Gases on Plane Surfaces of Glass Mica and Platinum. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 40, 1361-1403 (1918).

 

18. H.M.F. Freundlich, Uber die adsorption in lasungen. Z. Phys. Chem., 57, 385-470 (1906).

Keywords

1. J. Gamboge, Zirconium and Hafnium, U.S. Geological Survey” Mineral Commodity Summaries, 192-193 (2008).
 
2. D.O. Voit, In Proceeding of International Solvent Extraction Conference, Belgium, 59 (1980).
 
3. J. Swain, A. Sahoo, B.C. Bhatta, Liquid-liquid Extraction of Zr (IV) from Sulphuric Acid Medium using Tri-n-octyl Amine in Kerosene, European Journal of Chemistry, 9 (3), 222-227 (2018).
 
4. R. Banda, M.S. Lee, Solvent Extraction for the Separation of Zr and Hf from Aqueous Solutions, Separation & Purification Reviews, 44, 199-215 (2015).
 
5. W. Bruchle, et al, Chromatographic Studies of Rf (element 104) with tributylphosphate (TBP), Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 271–273, 300–302 (1998).
 
6. H. Faghihian, M. Kabiri-Tadi, Removal of Zirconium from Aqueous Solution by Modified Clinoptilolite, Journal of Hazardous Materials, 178, 66-73 (2010).
 
7. E. Zolfonoun, et al, Selective and Direct Sorption of Zirconium from Acidic Leach Liquor of Zircon Concentrate by Rice Bran, Minerals Engineering, 23, 755–756 (2010).
 
8. V. Pershina, Theoretical Predictions of Hydrolysis and Complex Formation of Group 4 Elements Zr, Hf, Rf in HF & HCl Solutions, RadioChem Acta,  90, 869-877 (2002).
 
9. A. Rahmati, et al, Study for Extraction and Separation Zirconium from Hafnium in TBP- HCl- HNO3 process, Nuclear Society of Iran, 19th Iranians nuclear conference, Ferdosi University of Mashhad, 1160-1165, (2013).
 
10. Y. Wang, H. Lee, Solvent Extraction of Zirconium and Hafnium from Hydrochloric acid Solutions using Acidic Organophosphorus Extractants and their Mixtures with TOPO, Materials Transactions, 54(8), 1460-1466 (2013).
 
11. S. Fatemi, A.R. Khanchi, M. Kalantari, Separation and purification of Zr and Hf cations from each other bby using new ion exvhange chromatographic method, Journal of Faculty of Engineering (University of Tehran), 40, 147-156 (2006) (In Persion).
 
12. C.B. Elaine, Separation of Zirconium from Hafnium by Ion Exchange, International Nuclear Atlantic Conference. Recife, Brazil, 24-29, (2013).
 
13. L. Nunez, M.D. Kaminski, Magnetically Assisted Chemical Separation Process, Filtration & Seperetion, 351 (1998).
 
14. N. Mansouri, K. Saberyan, M. Noaparast, Evaluation of Kinetic and Isotherm Models of Uranium Extraction from Acid Solutions using Triocthylamine (TOA) Functionalized Magnetite Nanoparticles, 9th Iranian Student Mining EngineeringConference, University of Birjand, 29-31 Oct. (2013).
 
15. M. Bahrami, Synthesis of Magnetic Nanoparticles (Fe3O4) and its Efficiency in Cadmium Removal from Aqueous Solutions, Journal of Water and Waste Water, 3, 54-62 (2012).
 
16. H. Parham, B. Zargar, Fast and Efficient Removal of Mercury from Water Samples using 2-mercaptobenzothiazole Functionalized MNPs, Journal of Hazardous Materials, 205-206, 94-100 (2012).
 
17. I. Langmuir, The Adsorption of Gases on Plane Surfaces of Glass Mica and Platinum. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 40, 1361-1403 (1918).
 
18. H.M.F. Freundlich, Uber die adsorption in lasungen. Z. Phys. Chem., 57, 385-470 (1906).