The Effect of Type and Concentration of Surfactant and Ligand on Uranium (VI) Cloud-Point Extraction (CPE) from Aqueous Solutions

In this article cloud-point extraction (CPE) was used with chelating agent to extract uranium from aqueous solutions. The methodology used is based on the formation of metal complexes soluble in a micellar phase of surfactant. The metal ions complexes are then extracted into the surfactant-rich phase at a temperature above the cloud-point temperature. The effect of type of surfactants and ligands on extraction efficiency at constant condition (pH =6, surfactant concentration of 0.5 % (w/v), chelating agent concentration of 1.5 × 10-3 M, incubation time of 20 min, equilibrium temperature of 50?C, centrifugation time of 10 min) were studied and the best surfactant and ligand was identified. Then, optimum concentration of surfactant and ligand together with the other optimal conditions of extraction was determined. By using CPE method and obtained optimal conditions, determination of uranium in water samples with a detection limit of 0.15?g L-1 was conducted.