Composition and properties of tectosilicate-uranium layers of soil

Abstract

Structure and superficial properties of tectosilicates found in soils with potential to retain uranium are studied in this work. These tectosilicates are largely available as natural minerals in the soil and are composed mainly by anorthite (CaAl₂Si₂O₈), albite (NaAlSi₃O₈) and orthoclase (KAlSi₃O₈), in which albite has approximately 3 times the content of orthoclase and 2.5 times the content of anorthite. However, anorthite has a double cell structure, which could result in approximately the same sorption effect as albite. The acidity constants calculated with the surface complexation model suggested that the three components have similar amphoteric behavior in presence of high ionic strength ground salt solutions. The composite mineral has a specific surface area of 20.5 m²g^-1 with site density of 2.8 sites nm^-2. These characteristics make this mineral a good candidate for uranium capture.