Fast removal of uranium from aqueous solutions using tetraethylenepentamine modified magnetic chitosan resin

Chitosan was cross-linked using glutaraldehyde in the presence of magnetite. The resin was chemically modified through the reaction with tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) to produce amine bearing chitosan. The resin showed a higher affinity towards the uptake of UO2(2+) ions from aqueous medium: maximum sorption capacity reached 1.8 mmol g(-1) at pH 4 and 25 °C. The nature of interaction of UO2(2+) ions with the resin was identified. Kinetics were carried out at different temperatures and thermodynamic parameters were evaluated. Breakthrough curves for the removal of UO2(2+) were studied at different flow rates, bed heights and after 3 regeneration cycles. Hydrochloric acid (0.5 M) was used for desorbing UO2(2+) from loaded resin: desorption yield as high as 98% was obtained.