Using nanomagnetic extractants for removal of uranium from water via magnetic filtration

ENVR 170

Sulaiman M. Alfadul, sfadul@kacst.edu.sa, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, P.O. Box 6086, Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia and Allen W. Apblett, allen.apblett@okstate.edu, Department of Chemistry, Oklahoma State University, Physical Sciences 107, Stillwater, OK 74078.
We report here the synthesis of a novel nanocomposite magnetic extractant. Magnetic filtration provides several advantages such as extremely rapid separations and remote operation preventing safety and health problems to workers. Synthesis of coated magnetite nanoparticles was achieved by treating magnetite nanoparticles with a solution of [1-(2-aminoethyl)aminopropyl]trimethoxysilane in toluene. The reaction mixture was allowed to stir by using a mechanical stirrer at 80 °C for 24 hours. The material is designated as AEAPS-MN. Also, a pyridine group was immobilized by mechanically stirring AEAPS-MN in a solution of 2-vinylpyridine. The aqueous mixture of these materials is a stable suspension and the average size of particles was around 60 nm. These materials were characterized by using different techniques such as IR, SEM and XRD. They were also used to remove uranium from contaminated water. Their efficiency in removing uranium (the number of moles of U per gram of magnetic extractant) indicated that they have a promising application for remediation of contaminated water.
 

General Papers
6:00 PM-8:00 PM, Wednesday, August 22, 2007 BCEC -- Exhibit Hall - B2, Poster

Division of Environmental Chemistry

The 234th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007