Uranium remediation using modified Vigna radiata waste biomass.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Uranium contamination poses environmental and health risks.
• Developing efficient and sustainable methods for uranium removal is crucial.
• Biomass-based adsorbents offer a promising low-cost alternative for heavy metal remediation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the use of Vigna radiata biomass for uranium ion recovery.
• To optimize process parameters for maximum uranium adsorption.
• To understand the adsorption mechanism and the effect of pretreatment.

Main Methods:

• Optimization of pH, contact time, temperature, and initial uranium concentration.
• Evaluation of physical and chemical biomass pretreatments.
• Application of kinetic and equilibrium models (Freundlich isotherm, pseudo-second order).
• Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy for mechanism analysis.

Main Results:

• Maximum uranium removal of 230 mg/g achieved under optimized conditions (pH 4, 60 min, 40°C, 400 mg/L U).
• Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second order models best described the adsorption process.
• Biomass pretreatment significantly influenced adsorption capacity.
• CH3COOH 0.15M solution proved effective for uranium desorption.
• FT-IR analysis indicated the role of carbonyl and hydroxyl groups.

Conclusions:

• Vigna radiata biomass is a cost-effective and efficient biosorbent for uranium removal.
• Optimized conditions and pretreatment strategies enhance uranium adsorption.
• The study provides insights into the adsorption mechanism for potential application in wastewater treatment.