DESORPTION OF URANIUM FROM AMIDOXIME FIBER ADSORBENT

An amidoxime fibrous adsorbent is contacted with uranium-enriched seaw ater (10 ppm); about 10 mg uranium is loaded per 1 g dry fiber. Then t he rate and yield of uranium desorption from the fiber are determined with various eluents. Acid solutions are superior to alkali carbonate solutions as eluents. With a 0.1 mol-L-1 HCl solution, desorption is c ompleted in 2 hours regardless of the presence of uranium in the leach ing solution up to 15 ppm (almost-equal-to 6 x 10(-5) 5 mol.L-1). Seri al operation of the adsorption-desorption cycle four times does not af fect desorption efficiency, but the addition of heavy metal ions to th e eluent at a level of 1.8 x 10(-3) mol.L-1 significantly decreases de sorption efficiency.