URANIUM ADSORPTION BEHAVIOR ON PACITAN BENTONITE

Abstract

Uranium adsorption by Pacitan bentonite was investigated to evaluate its capacity for capturing uranium ions under various conditions. Before being used as an adsorbent, Pacitan bentonite was characterized in terms of pore structure, surface area, surface morphology, adsorption capacity, and chemical composition. This study aims to analyze the factors that influencing uranium adsorption on Pacitan bentonite, including contact time, pH, temperature, and the presence of ligands in solution. Both natural and acid-activated Pacitan bentonite were examined to compare their adsorption performance. The results showed that Pacitan bentonite effectively adsorbs uranium, with the highest adsorption occurring under acidic to neutral pH conditions and decreasing at higher pH levels. Acid activation reduced the uranium adsorption capacity due to structural and surface property changes. In addition, the addition of ligands such as NaCl, Na₂SO₄, and Na₂HPO₄ influenced uranium adsorption, with Na₂SO₄ having the most pronounced effect compared to NaCl and Na₂HPO₄. Overall, the results indicate that Pacitan bentonite has strong potential as a uranium adsorbent material, especially under suitable conditions to maintain ion exchange and surface adsorption. These findings provide important insights for developing adsorbent materials for nuclear waste treatment and remediation of uranium-contaminated environments.