Kaolinite/thiourea-formaldehyde composite for efficient U(VI) sorption from commercial phosphoric acid

Abstract Uranium removal from wet phosphoric acid is a vital process for food and environmental security. The incorporation of thiourea-formaldehyde into the kaolinite networks was performed to obtain an effective and acid-resistant sorbent. The prepared composite was applied for U(VI) uptake from crude phosphoric acid. X-ray diffraction, EDX, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared analyses were carried out to explore the properties of the yield composite. The sorption characteristics, i.e., capacity, kinetic, isotherm, and thermodynamic were investigated. The anticipated data declare that the reaction is fast whereas 60 min is sufficient to reach the equilibrium state. The experimental results obeyed to Pseudo second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum sorption capacity was about 5.8 mg g −1 . Thermodynamic parameters displayed that the sorption process is endothermic, feasible, and spontaneous. The displayed results demonstrate that the prepared composite could be used as the proper material for producing eco-friendly fertilizers.