RECOVERY OF URANIUM USING IMMOBILIZED POLYHYDROXYBENZENE

In order to develop a new adsorbent for uranium, the adsorption of uranium from seawater by immobilized polyhydroxybenzene compounds has been investigated. Polyhydroxybenzene compounds having adjacent hydroxy groups, such as catechol and pyrogallol, form stable five-membered chelate ring with uranyl ion. The immobilized polyhydroxybenzene compounds have an excellent ability to adsorb uranium from seawater. Especially, the immobilized pyrogallol, having two chelating positions for uranyl ion, is the most suitable adsorbent for uranium recovery from seawater. This adsorbent also has a selectivity for uranium.