REMOVAL OF URANIUM AND ASSOCIATED ELEMENTS FROM SINAI WELLS WATER USING THE DRIED AND CHEMICALLY MODIFIED ORANGE PEELS

Abstract

It is well known that the natural cellulose has low ionic exchange properties, due to its characterization by a small number of carboxylic groups. Incorporation of different functional groups can promote its ionic exchange capacity. In this work, modification of orange peel by treating with sodium hydroxide and amination, phosphoration and sulfonation. The different ion exchanger has been used to increase the ion exchange capacity of such materials, by developing their swelling properties and decreasing their lignin content. A maximum uranium uptake of 726 mg/g was observed at the obtained optimum conditions using modified resin (ion exchange No. VII). The latter (0.841: 0.420) mm size orange peels were modified using a mixture of sulfonic and phosphoric acids. Ion exchange No. VII was used as the case study to remove uranium and associated elements from Sinai wells water. The main purpose of this work is to prepare different resins from the Egyptian plant waste. Orange peels were chosen because they are popular and widespread plant wastes in Egypt.