Uptake of Uranium from Seawater by Amidoxime-Based Polymeric Adsorbent: Field Experiments, Modeling, and Updated Economic Assessment

Abstract

Uranium recovery from seawater has been investigated for several decades for the purpose of securing nuclear fuel for energy production. In this study, field column experiments have been performed at the Marine Sciences Laboratory of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) using a laboratory-proven, amidoxime-based polymeric adsorbent developed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The adsorbent was packed either in in-line filters or in flow-through columns. The maximum amount of uranium uptake from seawater was 3.3 mg of U/g of adsorbent after 8 weeks of contact between the adsorbent and seawater. This uranium adsorption amount was about 3 times higher than the maximum amount achieved in this study by a leading adsorbent developed at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). Both adsorbents were tested under similar conditions. The results were used to update an assessment of the cost of large-scale recovery of uranium from seawater using the ORNL adsorbent. The updated uranium production cost was estimated to be reduced to $610/kg of U, approximately half the cost estimated for the JAEA technology.

Bicarbonate Elution of Uranium from Amidoxime‐Based Polymer Adsorbents for Sequestering Uranium from Seawater

“…The recyclability of the adsorbent is a major factor which would justify further development of industrial scale extraction of uranium from seawater at a price competitive with those from conventional terrestrial ores. Kim et al . recently reported that a high capacity (6 g U/kg adsorbent) and durable (3 % loss/use) adsorbent could lead to a competitive seawater uranium production cost.…”

Structural and spectroscopic studies of a rare non-oxido V(v) complex crystallized from aqueous solution

“…Currently, the most advanced technology for extracting the exceedingly dilute uranium (3.3 μg kg –1 , 14 nM)2 from seawater involves the use of polymeric sorbents functionalized with the amidoxime moiety (–C(NH 2 )NOH) 3,4. Promising marine test results have been reported in Japan over a decade ago in which the uranium uptake was 1.5 g U kg –1 sorbent after 30 days5 while more recently, marine tests conducted in the United States revealed that 3.3 g U kg –1 sorbent was obtained after 8 weeks 6…”

Multivariate Optimization of a Functionalized SBA-15 Mesoporous Based Solid-Phase Extraction for U(VI) Determination in Water Samples

“…[1][2][3] This menace stimulates a survey of the efficient, rapid and cost-effective methods for the elimination, monitoring and determination of uranium ions, particularly in contaminated water samples to be very important. [4][5][6] The low concentration of uranium ion in the presence of relatively high concentrations of other ions causes difficulties in its direct determination.…”