1054 Figure 22 – Results of the batch tests using MOS to remove uranium. 4. DISCUSSION Moringa Oleifera seeds exhibit high uranium adsorption capacity and are abundant and inexpensive. The comparative evaluation of (MOS) and unmodified Chitosan reveals distinct performance disparities in the removal of uranium from aqueous effluents. While the literature often highlights Chitosan as a viable adsorbent, this study confirms substantial operational limitations in its unmodified form. Additionally, the extracted material formed a viscous slurry upon mixing, impeding mass transfer and filtration and limiting uranium removal to approximately 34%. In contrast, MOS demonstrated high efficiency without any modification, achieving removal rates exceeding 85% at high concentrations (373 µg/L) and reducing uranium levels to below detection limits (0.03 Bq/L) at lower concentrations. These results suggest that the natural functional groups present in MOS biomass are sufficiently potent for uranium binding even under acidic conditions, offering a significant advantage over unmodified biopolymers in both efficiency and operational simplicity. Table 3 compares various characteristics of Chitosan and Moringa Oleifera.
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