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Research on the uranium (VI) reduction by free radicals using UV/formic acid process

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Abstract

This study investigated the use of ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation for the activation of formic acid (FA) to reduce U(VI) in aqueous solutions. The results demonstrated that under UV radiation, FA exhibited a higher U(VI) reduction efficiency than other organic acids, and up to 70% of U(VI) in aqueous solutions was successfully removed. Electron spin resonance and methanol quenching experiments confirmed that U(VI) reduction in the UV/FA process was due to the electron transfer facilitated by FA (HCOOH) and CO2•−. This catalyst-free UV/FA process holds promise for the reduction of U(VI) in leaking water from uranium tailing ponds.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by and the Key projects of key R & D plan of Jiangxi Province (20212BBG71011), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21966004, 22006011, 52064001) and the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi, China (20224BAB203028, 20202ACBL213006).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang, 330013, China

    Dan Zhou, Yadan Guo, Juan Wang, Keng Xuan, Yao** Guo, Hao Jiang, Xuegang Wang & Zhongkui Zhou

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  1. Dan Zhou
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  3. Juan Wang
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  4. Keng Xuan
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Correspondence to Yadan Guo or Keng Xuan.

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Zhou, D., Guo, Y., Wang, J. et al. Research on the uranium (VI) reduction by free radicals using UV/formic acid process. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 332, 4441–4447 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-09138-2

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