Scavenging of UO2 2+ using 4-sulfonic calix[6]arene in the presence of goethite

The scavenging of UO₂ ²⁺ using 4-sulfonic calix6]arene in the presence of a strong adsorbent was studied as a function of pH. The adsorbent selected was goethite because of its strong affinity for UO₂ ²⁺ and its abundance in natural soils. In order to understand the underlying chemistry of the scavenging process, the adsorption of UO₂ ²⁺ and 4-sulfonic calix6]arene onto goethite, respectively, and the extraction of adsorbed UO₂ ²⁺ from goethite surface were modeled using the triple-layer model. The model well explained the pH dependence of the adsorption and extraction processes. This work showed that maximum extraction was obtained around pH 10.5 in the presence of 12g/l goethite in the case of a 1:3T _U(VI):T _calixareneratio.