Uranium micelle-mediated extraction in acetate medium: factorial design optimization

Abstract

A micelle-mediated extraction (CPE) procedure has been developed to remove trace amounts of uranium from wastewater using a non-ionic surfactant (Triton (X-100)) and lipophilic chelating extracting agent (D2EHPA) in acetate medium. The methodology used is based on the formation of metal complexes soluble in a micellar phase of a non-ionic surfactant. The uranyl ions complexes are then extracted into the surfactant-rich phase at a ambient temperature. The effects of different operating parameters such as the concentrations of Triton (X-100), D2EHPA and metal ions, temperature, sodium acetate rate and pH on the cloud point extraction of uranyl ions were studied in details and a set of optimum conditions were obtained. The results showed, without contribution of energy (ambient temperature), that up to 1000 ppm of uranyl ions can quantitatively be removed (> 97 %) in a single CPE extraction using optimum conditions.