LAUSR

Abstract Sorption of U(VI) ions on inulin as the sorbent was investigated at the U(VI) concentrations ranging 0.0001–0.001 mol/dm3 in the absence and presence of phosphate ions P(V). Multilayer sorption of U(VI) was established based on a the Langmuir–Freundlich sorption isotherm. It was concluded, on the basis of the continuous variation method, that the (UO2)3(OH)5H2PO4 and (UO2)3(PO4)2 complexes were present in the sorbent phase during the simultaneous sorption of U(VI) and P(V) ions. XPS, FT-IR and thermal decomposition spectra of products of U(VI) sorption on inulin showed that U(VI) ions interacted with inulin via the CO and OH groups of the sorbent. With its maximum U(VI) sorption capacity of 78/mg/g and its easy thermal decomposition, i.e. easy utilization, inulin holds a good position among known sorbents.