A Green and Economical Method for Uranium Removal

Abstract

Banana Peel a largely produced fruit waste has been utilized to remove/preconcentrate Uranium from aqueous solution. Removal was characterized by Fourier Transform Infra Red spectroscopy and SEM techniques. Effect of pH on removal of Uranium showed the gradual increase in removal up to pH 3 then was nearly constant up to pH 10. A 1710±10 µg of Uranium was removed per 100 mg of banana peel within the exposure time of 30 min. Maximum removal of 1800±10 µg per 100 mg of banana peel was achieved after exposure time of 24 hr. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis of Uranium adsorbed banana peel showed a peak of Uranium at 3.2 keV which confirmed the adsorption of Uranium onto banana peel. FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed the involvement of –COOH group in adsorption of Uranium on banana peel. Data followed the kinetic models in the order: Pseudo-First order Model> Elovich Model >Intra-particle diffusion Model. Adsorbed Uranium was recovered with 5 ml of 0.1M HNO3.