URANIUM SORPTION BY GLUTAMATE GLUCAN - A MODIFIED CHITOSAN .1. EQUILIBRIUM STUDIES

Chitosan, a natural polymer, is modified by an oxo-2-glutaric acid sub stitution and a subsequent reduction to form glutamate glucan. This mo dified chitosan is then used to examine uranium sorption. The main par ameters that play an important part in sorption mechanisms are the pH and the total metal concentration. Other parameters such as temperatur e, agitation and particle size of the sorbent show a restricted effect on the sorption equilibrium.The maximum uptake capacity, obtained at pH 5 to 6, reaches approximately 500 mgU/g. At pH 5, a sorption monola yer is predominant; at higher pH, the sorption becomes more complicate d. A surface precipitation model of uranium sorption is proposed.