INVESTIGATION OF ACTIVATED CARBON ADSORBENT ELECTRODE FOR ELECTROSORPTION-BASED URANIUM EXTRACTION FROM SEAWATER

Abstract

To support the use of nuclear power as a sustainable electric energy generating technology,long-term supply of uranium is very important. The objective of this research is toinvestigate the use of new adsorbent material for cost effective uranium extraction fromseawater. An activated carbon-based adsorbent material is developed and tested throughan electrosorption technique in this research. Adsorption of uranium from seawater byactivated carbon electrodes was investigated through electrosorption experiments up to300 minutes by changing positive potentials from þ0.2V to þ0.8V (vs. Ag/AgCl). Uraniumadsorption by the activated carbon electrode developed in this research reached up to 3.4 g-U/kg-adsorbent material, which is comparable with the performance of amidoxime-basedadsorbent materials. Electrosorption of uranium ions from seawater was found to be mostfavorable at þ0.4V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The cost of chemicals and materials in the presentresearch was compared with that of the amidoxime-based approach as part of the engineeringfeasibility examination.