Uranium Sorption on “Tezontle” Volcanic Rock

Abstract

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 H2ONa4[ 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.