Performance of Graphene Oxide Membrane for Separating U From U-Nb-Zr Alloys Under Strong Nitric Acid System

• Published in: Hé huàxué yŭ fàngshè huàxué Vol. 47; no. 3; pp. 224 - 234
• Main Authors: Dong-ping ZHANG, Li-qin HUANG, Lei SU, Yuan-ting XIONG, Feng ZHAO, Yue-xiang LU
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese
• Published: Editorial Office of Journal of Nuclear and Radiochemistry 01.06.2025
• Subjects: graphene oxide membrane; niobium; sieving; uranium; zirconium
• ISSN: 0253-9950
• DOI: 10.7538/hhx.2025.47.03.0224

There are a large amount of uranium, niobium, and niobium elements in the unqualified products generated during the production and manufacturing process of U-Nb-Zr alloy materials, as well as in the wastewater generated during the analysis and characterization process. In order to achieve the recovery and reuse of uranium and reduce the discharge of radioactive waste, this work adopted a membrane separation technology based on graphene oxide membranes(GOMs). By utilizing the size difference between uranyl ions and niobium and zirconium hydrate ions, the separation of uranyl ions from uranium, niobium and zirconium ion solutions under strong nitric acid system was explored. Six groups of GOMs with different graphite particle sizes and oxidation degrees were prepared. The effects of membrane oxidation degree, membrane thickness, solution acidity, and ion concentration on screening and separation efficiency was evaluated. SEM show that the thickness of 1.2 mg GOMs is about 1 μm, and there are obvious wrinkles on