Adsorption of strontium ions from aqueous solution using hydrous,amorphous MnO2–ZrO2 composite: a new inorganic ion exchanger

Hydrous, amorphous MnO₂–ZrO₂ composite was prepared as a new inorganic composite material under various conditions for removal of Sr²⁺ ion from aqueous solutions. The physico-chemical characterization was carried out by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetry. The maximum sorption capacity for synthesized composite was evaluated as 1.5 meq/g sorbent and batch experiments were carried out as a function of contact time, aqueous phase pH, temperature and initial metal ions concentration of adsorptive solution. The results indicated that under optimal conditions, Sr²⁺ ions could be efficiently removed using MnO₂–ZrO₂ composite from aqueous solutions when pH > 5. The equilibrium isotherms were determined and the sorption data were successfully modeled using Langmuir model. Kinetics of the process was studied by considering a pseudo second-order model. This model predicted chemisorption as the adsorption mechanism. The results of thermodynamic investigation reveal that the adsorption process of the studied ion is entropy driven.     

Sorption of americium from low-level liquid wastes by nanocrystalline MnO2

Nanocrystalline MnO₂, synthesized by alcoholic hydrolysis of KMnO₄, has been studied as a sorbent for removal of americium from low level liquid waste solutions. The synthesized MnO₂ was found to have BET surface area of 230 m² g^?1. Am(III) was found to be sorbed by MnO₂ quantitatively within 15 min at pH 5. The sorption was found to be more than 90 % at as low a pH as 1.2 and reached to near 100 % at all pH values above pH 3.0 There was no effect of ionic strength (0.01–1.0 M NaCl, CaCl₂) on the sorption suggesting the sorption following inner sphere complexation mechanism at all the pH values. Adsorption isotherm studies were carried out using Eu(III) as a chemical analogue of Am(III). These studies showed the isotherm data to follow Langmuir adsorption isotherm.     

Impact of environmental conditions on the sorption behavior of UO<Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>2+</Superscript> onto attapulgite studied by batch experiments

The sorption of UO₂ ²⁺ from aqueous solution on attapulgite was investigated as a function of contact time, solid content, pH, ionic strength, foreign ions, humic acid (HA), and fulvic acid (FA) under ambient conditions by using batch technique. The attapulgite sample was characterized by XRD and FTIR in detail. The results indicated that the sorption of UO₂ ²⁺ was strongly dependent on pH and ionic strength. The sorption of UO₂ ²⁺ on attapulgite increased quickly with rising pH at pH < 6.5, and decreased with increasing pH at pH > 6.5. The presence of HA or FA enhanced the sorption of UO₂ ²⁺ on attapulgite obviously at low pH because of the strong complexation of surface adsorbed HA/FA with UO₂ ²⁺ on attapulgite surface. Sorption of UO₂ ²⁺ on attapulgite was mainly dominated by ion-exchange or outer-sphere surface complexation at low pH values, but by inner-sphere surface complexation at high pH values. The results indicate that attapulgite is a very suitable adsorbent for the preconcentration and solidification of UO₂ ²⁺ from large volumes of aqueous solutions because of its negative surface charge and large surface areas.     

Ion exchange with silica-titania gels

Silica-titania gels containing 25, 50 and 75 mol% TiO₂ were prepared and the sorption of alkali and alkaline earth metal ions by these materials has been studied. Distribution coefficient values for Cs⁺ and Sr²⁺ ions were found to pass through broad maxima as a function of TiO₂ content except in the case of Sr under alkaline conditions where there was a continuous increase. Capacity values also increased with TiO₂ content and samples containing 50% (for K⁺ and Cs⁺), 75% (for Li⁺ and Na⁺) and 25%/50% (for Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺ and Ba²⁺) TiO₂ exhibited maximum capacities. However, unlike with alkali metals, capacities of a given sorbent for the three alkaline earth ions were almost the same. Large capacities obtained for the latter ions seem to indicate a mineral-forming reaction with 25% and 50% materials. On the other hand, the 25% TiO₂ gel seems to sorb Sr at trace level by an ion exchange mechanism. Coupled with its Cs sorption capability, this material may find potential use in large scale decontamination of low level waste solutions.     

Study of the gadolinium sorption on the C100 ion-exchange resin for the development of the antineutrino detector targets

Adsorption of the gadolinium from H₂O and HCl solutions on the ion-exchange resin C100 is investigated. The experiments were carried out by varying the acidity of the liquid phase, the amount of sorbent, and the temperature. The maximal sorption of the ions Gd³⁺ is observed from the solution 0–0.2 M HCl under optimal conditions, the sorption reaches more than 99.5%. Sorption of Gd³⁺ on C100 from H₂O solution occurs most intensively during the first 3 min then for 30 min the system smoothly comes to equilibrium. The maximal sorption capacity of the resin C100 amounted to 1.2 ± 0.1 mmol g^?1. The thermodynamic parameters of sorption: ΔG = ? 24.20 kJ mol^?1, ΔS = ? 90.27 J mol^?1 K^?1, ?H = ? 50.93 kJ mol^?1 were evaluated. It is shown that the sorption of gadolinium on the ion-exchange resin C100 is described by models of kinetically pseudo-first and pseudo-second order. It is established that the Gd³⁺ sorption on the C100 resin is reversible second order chemical reaction.     

Sorption of Th(IV) from aqueous solution to GMZ bentonite: effect of pH, ionic strength, fulvic acid and electrolyte ions

Bentonite has been studied extensively because of its strong sorption and complexation ability. In this study, GMZ bentonite (China) was studied as a potential sorbent for the removal of Th(IV) from aqueous solutions. The results indicate that the sorption of Th(IV) is strongly dependent on pH and ionic strength at pH <5, and is independent of ionic strength at pH >5. Outer-sphere surface complexation or ion exchange in inter-layer sites of the montmorillonite fraction of the GMZ bentonite may be the main sorption mechanism of Th(IV) onto GMZ bentonite at low pH values, whereas the sorption of Th(IV) at pH >5 is mainly dominated by inner-sphere surface complexation or surface precipitation. The presence of soil fulvic acid has a positive influence on the sorption of Th(IV) on GMZ bentonite at pH <5. The competition between Th(IV) with aqueous or surface adsorbed cation ions (e.g., herein Li⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺) and surface functional groups of GMZ bentonite is important for Th(IV) sorption on GMZ bentonite. The results of high sorption of Th(IV) suggest that the GMZ bentonite is a suitable backfill material in nuclear waste management.     

Interaction of U(VI) with Na-attapulgite in the presence and absence of humic acid as a function of pH, ionic strength and temperature

The interaction of U(VI) with Na-attapulgite was studied by using batch technique at different experimental conditions. The effect of contact time, solid content, pH, ionic strength and temperature on the sorption of U(VI) onto Na-attapulgite in the presence and absence of humic acid was also investigated. The results showed that the sorption of U(VI) on Na-attapulgite achieved sorption equilibrium quickly. Sorption of U(VI) on Na-attapulgite increased quickly with increasing pH at pH < 6.5, and then decreased with pH increasing at pH > 6.5. The sorption curves were shifted to left in low NaClO₄ solutions as compared those in high NaClO₄ solutions. The sorption was strongly dependent on pH and ionic strength. The sorption was dominated by ion exchange or outer-sphere surface complexation at low pH values, and by inner-sphere surface complexation or surface precipitation at high pH values. The thermodynamic parameters (i.e., ΔH ⁰, ΔS ⁰, and ΔG ⁰) for the sorption of U(VI) were calculated from the temperature dependent sorption isotherms, and the results suggested that the sorption reaction was an endothermic and spontaneous process. The Na-attapulgite is a suitable material in the removal and preconcentration of U(VI) from large volumes of aqueous solutions in nuclear waste management.     

Sorption of Cd<Superscript>2+</Superscript> with the product formed by alkali treatment of boron production wastes

Experiments on sorption of Cd²⁺ ions from aqueous CdCl₂ solutions with calcium hydrosilicate prepared from borogypsum (boron production waste) showed that this cheap sorbent can be used for effi cient sorption of Cd²⁺ ions in a wide range of solid: liquid ratios.     

Kinetics of Pu(IV) sorption by smectite-rich natural clay

Kinetics of sorption of Pu(IV) by smectite-rich clay has been studied at varying metal ion concentrations. Different concentrations were achieved using different isotopes of Pu, namely, ²³⁹Pu, ²³⁸Pu and ²³⁷Pu. ²³⁷Pu was produced by alpha induced reaction on ²³⁵U, followed by radiochemical separation of Pu from irradiated U₃O₈ target. The concentrations used are above and below the solubility of Pu(IV) under neutral pH conditions, thereby, indicating the mechanism of sorption reactions of Pu(IV) in typical laboratory experiments and field level observations. Kinetics of Pu(IV) at 10^?13 M concentration was found to be fast whereas at higher metal concentration the rate is governed by a slow step, indicating the role of formation of Pu(IV) polymeric species at the sorbent surface.     

Effect of coexisting cations on the adsorption of cesium onto poly (β-cyclodextrin)/bentonite composite

A novel poly(β-cyclodextrin)/bentonite composite (β-CD/BNC) was successfully prepared through graft polymerisation by using ammonium persulphate–sodium bisulphate as initiators, and characterized by FT-IR and EDS. The equilibrium data fit Freundlich isotherm satisfactorily. Adsorption kinetic was fitted with pseudo-second-order. The maximum adsorption capacities for Cs⁺ by β-CD/BNC in absence and presence of Na⁺ and Mg²⁺ were 48.83 ± 0.35, 47.30 ± 0.28, and 42.52 ± 0.85 mg g^?1, respectively. Adsorption of Cs⁺ was suppressed by presence of Mg²⁺ more than Na⁺. β-CD/BNC had a higher affinity to Cs⁺ than Na⁺ and Mg²⁺. β-CD/BNC was an effective sorbent for the treatment cesium waste water.     

Performance of immobilized moss in the removal of 137Cs and 90Sr from actual low-level radioactive waste solutions

The efficiency of immobilized moss as a bio-sorbent for the removal of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr radionuclides from actual low-level radioactive waste (LLW) solutions was investigated. Preliminary batch experiments with the moss (Funaria hygrometrica) for the sorption of Cs and Sr have shown a pH dependent binding trend from pH 1–13, with maximum binding between pH 5–10. Time dependence of the batch studies showed that a contact time of 30 minutes was sufficient to reach equilibrium. Column experiments for the sorption of Cs and Sr by moss after immobilizing in polymer silica matrix demonstrated that the sorbent is capable of removing considerable amounts of Cs and Sr from actual LLW solutions under constant flow conditions. The adsorption capacity was estimated to be 8.5 mg/g for Cs and 15 mg/g for Sr. These sorbed metal ions from the column could be leached out using 0.20M nitric acid. The regenerated sorbent exhibited relatively the same initial binding capacity of both Cs and Sr even after 3 cycles of reuse. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Sorption of nickel on chitosan

The sorption of nickel on chitosan was studied using batch method. As a tracer was used radioisotope ⁶³Ni. The effect of pH and contact time to reach sorption equilibrium was investigated. During the sorption of Ni²⁺ ions occur mostly to ion-exchange reactions on the surface of sorbent. The time to reach the sorption equilibrium of nickel on chitosan was 14 h. The percentage of sorption after 14 h achieved the value of 84 %. On the sorption of nickel used solutions with initial pH in the range from 3.9 to 8.1. In the monitored range of pH after 24 h of contact was the sorption of nickel on chitosan >97 %. The sorption of nickel was reduced by increasing concentrations of Ni²⁺ ions in the solution. The experimental data for sorption of nickel have been interpreted in the term of Langmuir isotherm and the value of maximum sorption capacity of nickel on chitosan was 2.71 × 10^?3 mol g^?1.     

Application of a carbonized apricot stone for the treatment of some radioactive nuclei

Apricot stone shells were carbonized under certain chemical and thermal conditions to produce sorbents having a quantitative affinity to retain some radioactive nuclei. The sorbent shows a thermal stability upto 500 °C. The diffraction patterns clarify that the sorbent is mainly amorphous in structure. Carbon in these shells was elementally analyzed and the data reveal a predominant content of acidic surface centers with hydrophilic properties. The isoelectric point (pH_PZC) was determined and found to be 4.2 implying the acidic nature of the sorbent surface. The sorption of Cs⁺, Co²⁺ and Eu³⁺ on the prepared sorbent was studied from aqueous solution under different variables and the sorption capacity had values from 0.23-1.15 meq/g.     

Extraction and preconcentration of ultra trace amounts of beryllium from aqueous samples by nanometer mesoporous silica functionalized by 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde prior to ICP OES determination

A new functionalized nanometer mesoporous silica (MCM-41) using 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (4-OHsal) was applied as an effective sorbent for solid phase extraction (SPE) of beryllium ions from aqueous solution followed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometric detection (ICP OES). The influences of some analytical parameters on the quantitative recoveries of the analyte ion were investigated in batch method. In order to perform the batch mode of SPE, known amount of sorbent was added to a test tube containing sample solution buffered at pH 7.2. After manual shaking and centrifugation the aqueous phase was decanted and beryllium was desorbed by adding 1.0 mL of 1.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃ to the sedimented sorbent. The sorbent was separated by centrifugation and the concentration of beryllium in the supernatant was determined by ICP OES. The maximum sorption capacity of the modified MCM-41 was found to be 34 mg g^?1. The sorbent exhibited good stability, reusability and fast rate of equilibrium for sorption/desorption of beryllium ions. The present method was used for preconcentration and determination of beryllium for water samples. Under optimal conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) obtained was 0.3 ng L^?1. The accuracy of the procedure was evaluated by analysis of the certified reference material (NIST 1640).     

Determination of sorption capacity of fucoidic sands for Cs+ and Sr2+ under dynamic column conditions

In this paper, the sorption behavior of Cs⁺ and Sr²⁺ on column of fucoidic sands under dynamic flow conditions was investigated, and their sorption capacities (SC) towards these two cations were studied. The determination of SC is based on the construction of respective breakthrough curves using ¹³⁷Cs and ⁸⁵Sr radionuclides as isotopic indicators in laboratory experiments. The samples were taken from several parts of the borehole in the area of interest. Undisturbed cores of 5 cm in diameter and 10 cm long were put in the glass columns and the cores were perfectly tightened using acrylate resin. In this time-dependence study, the so-called cenoman background groundwater was used. A concentration of 10^?6 mol/dm³ of Cs⁺ and Sr²⁺ in liquid phase individually was established using neutral salts of CsNO₃ and Sr(NO₃)₂, respectively. The groundwater was introduced at the bottom of the columns by a multi-head peristaltic pump, at a constant flow-rate of about 4 cm³/h. The results show that the sorption capacity of the investigated fucoidic sands for ¹³⁷Cs and ⁸⁵Sr is 0.1–1.5 and 0.05–0.5 μmol/100 g, respectively, in dependence on the evaluation of corresponding breakthrough curves. Some differences in the behavior of the cores during the experiments have also been observed and explained.     

Sorption of 125I−, 137Cs+, 85Sr2+ and 152,154Eu3+ during their transport in undisturbed vertical and horizontal soil cores under dynamic flow conditions

Transport and sorption of ¹²⁵I^?, ¹³⁷Cs⁺, ⁸⁵Sr²⁺ and ^152,154Eu³⁺ in undisturbed soil cores have been studied under dynamic conditions. Radionuclides were dissolved in synthetic groundwater (SGW) of 0.015 mol/dm³ ionic strength, pH 8.4 and redox potential E_h = 145 mV. The soil samples were taken vertically and horizontally from the river bed at 5–100 cm depths, about 120 m southward of the Dukovany Low and Medium Level Radioactive Waste Repository. The respective water-soluble carriers in the 10^?6 mol/dm³ concentration were added into the SGW prior to the experiments. The soil cores of 9 cm height and 3.8 cm in diameter were placed into columns made of 150 cm³ PE injection syringes of suitable dimensions. The SGW was introduced into columns from the Mariotte’s bottle through a glass manifolds to supply the soil columns by gravity flow at a constant flow-rate about 1.2 cm³/h. Into the water stream, radioactive nuclides were added individually in a form of a short pulse in 0.1 cm³ of demineralized water. In the case of ¹²⁵I^? transport, retardation and hydrodynamic dispersion coefficients were determined, using an integral form of a simple advection-dispersion equation. For each radionuclides, sorption and desorption data have been obtained, evaluated and the results were compared mutually. Residual distributions of the sorbed cationic radionuclides along the soil columns were also presented.     

Sorption of cesium ions by nanostructured calcium aluminosilicates

Data on the sorption properties of synthetic calcium aluminosilicates (CASes) with Al: Si ratios of 2: 2, 2: 6, and 2: 10, fabricated within the multicomponent system CaCl₂–AlCl₃–KОН–SiO₂–H₂O, are presented. Isotherms of the sorption of Cs⁺ ions from aqueous solutions with Cs⁺ concentrations of 0.2 to 6.0 mmol L^–1 are analyzed. The CAS maximum sorption capacity and the Langmuir constants are determined. Kinetic data are obtained, and the energy of cation-exchange activation upon the sorption of Cs⁺ ions is determined. The effect of a salt background (1% KCl + 6% NaCl) has on the values of distribution coefficient (K_d) and the degree of Cs⁺ ion removal is established.     

Removal of Th4+ ions from aqueous solutions by graphene oxide

The removal of Th⁴⁺ ions from aqueous solutions was investigated using single-layer graphene oxide (GO) as a sorbent which was prepared by the modified Hummers’ method through batch adsorption experiments at room temperature. Structural characterizations of the sorbent were also investigated. The influences of the pH value of solution, contact time, sorbent dose, ionic strength, the initial metal ion concentration and temperature on the adsorption of Th⁴⁺ were also investigated. These results indicated that the adsorption of Th⁴⁺ was dependent on the pH and independent on the ionic strength. The sorbent provided significant Th⁴⁺ removal (>98.7 %) at pH 3.0 and the adsorption equilibrium was achieved after only 10 min. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm fit the absorption profile very closely, and indicated that a maximum adsorption capacity of 1.77 mmol g^?1 of GO (411 mg g^?1) after 2 h. The thermodynamic parameters showed that this adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous. Moreover, the desorption level of Th⁴⁺ from GO, by using 0.1 mol L^?1 H₂SO₄ as a stripping agent, was 84.2 ± 1.2 %, and that of 0.5 mol L^?1 HNO₃ as a stripping agent, was 79.8 ± 3.0 %.     

Removal of uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) ions from aqueous solutions by functionalized silica: kinetic and thermodynamic studies

Adsorption behavior of uranyl and thorium ions from synthetic radioactive solutions onto functionalized silica as sorbent has been investigated. The effect of contact time, initial concentration of radioactive solutions, sorbent mass, pH value and temperature on the adsorption capacity of the sorbent was investigated. Negative values of Gibbs free energy of adsorption suggested the spontaneity of the adsorption process on both functionalized silica with –NH₂ groups and with –SH groups. Positive values obtained for ΔH° indicates that the adsorption is an endothermic process. The adsorption isotherms were better fitted by Freundlich model and the adsorption kinetic was well described by the pseudo-second order equation. Desorption studies indicated that the most favorable desorptive reagents for UO₂ ²⁺ is HNO₃ 1 M and for Th⁴⁺ is EDTA 1 M solutions.     

Plutonium oxidation state distribution in natural clay and goethite

Distribution of Pu(IV) and Pu(V) oxidation states at trace initial concentrations (10^?10–10^?11 mol L^?1) was studied in a liquid- and solid-phase of natural clay and goethite systems. Experiments showed an increase in the concentration of Pu(III) up to 11% at pH 5 in solids of the natural clay ?0.1 mol L^?1 NaNO₃ system containing Pu(IV) after 7-day contact. A kinetic sorption/reduction experiment with goethite suspensions (0.01 mol L^?1 NaNO₃ containing Pu(V)) indicated the presence of Pu(III) in the solids up to 15%.