Interaction between chitosan and uranyl ions: Part 1. Role of physicochemical parameters

This work is devoted to the comprehension of the sorption mechanism of uranyl ions on chitosan particle dispersions. The uranyl concentration measurements were obtained by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and we considered the role of various physicochemical parameters (pH; nature and concentration of added salts; degree of acetylation, DA). The use of appropriate calculation software allowed us to determine the chemical nature of uranyl species in solution in relation to these different parameters. The optimal pH of fixation has been found to be within 6.5–7.5 and can be related to the necessity of having both deprotonated amino groups and no carbonate ions, which are a strong complexant of uranyl ions, thus inhibiting their interaction with chitosan. The decrease of metal uptake with an increase of DA and the lack of influence of ionic strength, confirm the results obtained with pH and allowed us to suppose the formation of a complex with chitosan amino groups rather than interactions of an electrostatic nature.