Sorption of cesium from aqueous solutions using polymer supported bentonite

Polyacrylonitrile supported bentonite (PAN-B) was prepared, characterized and used for adsorption of cesium from aqueous solutions through batch and column techniques. Different techniques were used for characterization of the prepared adsorbent as surface area, swelling properties, FTIR and SEM. The effect of pH, contact time, sorbent dose and the initial cesium concentration on the uptake percent of Cs from aqueous solution were studied. The equilibrium sorption data were described by the Temkin and Flory–Huggins isotherm models and the results could fit more with Temkin model with correlation coefficient 0.997. The effect of temperature on the sorption behavior was studied and the thermodynamic parameters were calculated and showed the exothermic nature of sorption reaction with ΔH_o = ?69.38 kJ/mol. Fixed bed studies were performed, the breakthrough of PAN-B column was studied at different conditions and the breakthrough capacity was calculated.     

Separation of europium from aqueous solutions using Al3+- and Fe3+-doped zirconium and titanium phosphates

Summary The sorption of europium from aqueous solutions (Eu-concentration: 10 to 250 mg/l) by Fe³⁺- and Al³⁺-doped zirconium- and titanium-phosphates was investigated using a batch technique and ¹⁵²Eu tracer. The initial pH of the solutions was adjusted to 3, 4, 5 and 6. All investigations were performed under constant ionic strength, I=0.15 established by NaCl.<span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Although zirconium phosphates generally showed a higher Eu-uptake capacity than the titanium ones, all investigated materials possessed the ability to remove considerable amounts of europium from aqueous solutions. The Eu-sorption properties of the studied phosphate materials<span style='font-size:12.0pt'>seem to be not especially affected by the type of trivalent cations used for the doping (i.e., Al³⁺or Fe³⁺).     

Kinetic modeling analysis for the removal of cesium ions from aqueous solutions using polyaniline titanotungstate

Polyaniline titanotungstate has been synthesized by incorporation of organic polymer polyaniline into the inorganic precipitate of titanotungstate. This material was characterized using X-ray, IR and TGA studies. The influences of initial concentration of metal ions, particle size and temperature have been reported. The comparison of composite and inorganic materials was studied and indicating that the composite material is better than the inorganic in selectivity of Cs⁺ ions. Thermodynamic parameters, such as changes in Gibbs free energy (ΔG), enthalpy (ΔH), and entropy (ΔS) have been calculated. The numerical values of ΔG decrease with an increase in temperature, indicating that the sorption reaction of adsorbent was spontaneous and more favorable at higher temperature. The positive values of ΔH correspond to the endothermic nature of sorption processes and suggested that chemisorptions were the predominant mechanism. A comparison of kinetic models applied to the sorption rate data of Cs⁺ ions was evaluated for the pseudo first-order, the pseudo second-order, intraparticle diffusion and homogeneous particle diffusion kinetic models. The results showed that both the pseudo second-order and the homogeneous particle diffusion models were found to best correlate the experimental rate data. Self diffusion coefficient (D_i), Activation energy (Ea) and entropy (ΔS^*) of activation were also computed from the linearized form of Arrhenius equation.     

Uranium uptake from acidic solutions using synthetic titanium and magnesium based adsorbents

Uranium uptake from acidic solutions is comprised practically in this study into three main steps namely; adsorbent synthesis, uranium uptake procedure, and desorption step. In this respect, two uranium adsorbents were synthesized from mineral processing of ilmenite and talc. Titanium phosphate adsorbent (TP) was deposited from titanium sulfate solution obtained from ilmenite sands processing. On the other hand, magnesium silicate adsorbent (MS) is prepared by sodium metasilicate neutralization of the acidic magnesium bearing waste solution resulted from talc whitening process. Structurally and chemically the two adsorbents were investigated by XRD, IR and SEM-EDX analyses. The studied factors affecting the uranium uptake onto TP and MS adsorbents were uranium concentration (10–1000 ppm), acidic pH range (1–6), contact time, shaking time and solid to liquid ratio. The uranium analysis was determined spectrophotometrically using arsenazo(III) dye where SEM-EDX analysis confirmed the uranium uptake by adsorbents. The optimum conditions obtained were applied to uranium bearing, highly mineralized granite samples (5200 ppm U) and black shale (40 ppm U). The uranium uptake was more than 98% for the mineralized granite samples and more than 97% for shale. The loaded uranium was recycled by using 0.5 and 1M HNO₃ in case of TP and MS with percentage recovery of 96 and 98% respectively.     

Inorganic ion-exchangers for the removal of zirconium,hafnium and niobium radioisotopes from aqueous solutions

Studies were made on the uptake of zirconium, hafnium and niobium isotopes onto zeolites and amorphous zirconium phosphate. Ion exchange capacities and distribution coefficients were determined and the influence of pH examined. Kinetic experiments were made to determine the rates of uptake of the radioisotopes on the exchangers and to measure the leaching of isotopes from preloaded exchangers by synthetic sea water, simulated pond water and distilled water.     

Sorption of thallium(III) ions from aqueous solutions using titanium dioxide nanoparticles

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (NPs) were employed for the sorption of Tl(III) ions from aqueous solution. The process was studied in detail by varying the sorption time, pH, Tl(III) concentration, temperature, and amount of sorbent. The sorption was found to be fast and to reach equilibrium within 2 min, to be less efficient at low pH values, and to increase with pH and temperature. The sorption fits the Langmuir equation and follows a pseudo second order model. The mean energy of the sorption is approximately 15 kJ mol^?1 as calculated from the Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm. The thermodynamic parameters for the sorption were also determined, and the ΔH ⁰ and ΔG ⁰ values indicate endothermic behavior.     

Removal of cesium radioisotopes from solutions using granulated zeolites

The influence of type of zeolite and the flow rate of solution through the column on the removal efficiency of radioactive cesium ions from solution has been investigated. The analysis of the change in the concentration of cesium ions in the solutions and distribution of cesium ions in the column fillings (granulated zeolites), after passing the solutions through the columns filled with various granulated zeolites (zeolite 4A, zeolite 13X, synthetic mordenite) was performed. On the basis of the results of this study, the conditions for the most efficient removal of cesium ions from solutions have been discussed.     

Removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions by alkaline-earth metal phosphates

The possibility of utilization of calcium or magnesium phosphates of various composition for heavy and non-ferrous metal extraction from aqueous solutions has been studied. The efficiency of the phosphates in removal of Pb(II), Cr(III) and Fe(III) ions has been shown to decrease in the following sequence: Mg₃(PO₄)₂>MgNH₄PO₄>Ca₃(PO₄)₂>CaHPO₄>Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂ which is inverse to their hydrolytic stability series. It has been established that phosphates of non-apatite structure are capable of binding up to 12 mmol g⁻¹ of the named heavy metals by a chemical interaction. Hydroxyapatite interacts with the polyvalent metal ions via either the above mentioned or ion-exchange mechanism, depending on preparation method used for the apatite and the nature of metal.     

Dielectric permittivity and relaxation of aqueous cesium iodide solutions

The high-frequency dielectric permittivity and losses of CsI solutions were studied at 288–323 K in the range of water dielectric permittivity dispersion (7–25 GHz). The low-frequency electrical conductivity of these solutions was measured, and ionic losses at high frequencies were calculated. The Debye or Cole-Cole relaxation model was used for describing the spectra. The low-frequency limits of these relaxation region were calculated, which are the static dielectric constants ɛ_S and well as dielectric relaxation times (τ) and activation enthalpies (ΔH _ɛ⁺⁺). The ɛ_S values decrease in going from water to a solution. In concentrated solutions, the slope of the plot of ɛ_S versus temperature become zero. The decrease in τ and gDH _ɛ⁺⁺ is evidence of the structure-breaking effect of ions on water. At elevated temperatures (313 K), the decrease in τ is minimal. At 323 K, τ slightly increases in going from water to a solution.     

Amine-functionalized graphene oxide/zinc hexacyanoferrate composites for cesium removal from aqueous solutions

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Amine-functionalized graphene oxide/zinc hexacyanoferrate (amino-rGO/ZnHCF) composites were successfully synthesized for the removal of Cs+ from...     

Adsorption of polymethacrylic acid from aqueous solutions on disperse titanium dioxide

The state of macromolecules of polymethacrylic acid adsorbed on the surface of disperse titanium dioxide was assessed using a combination of the differential concentration approach to the determination of adsorption and methods for determining the size of disperse adsorbents by dynamic light scattering and sedimentation analysis in the field of centrifugal forces. Three sections were found on the isotherm of adsorption: in the first, isolated islands of adsorbed macromolecules formed; in the second, layers of macromolecules with a different degree of deformation were observed; in the third, determining the adsorption of macromolecules is complicated by other accompanying processes, and assessing the state of macromolecules in the adsorption layer becomes difficult.     

Investigation of the salting out of methane from aqueous electrolyte solutions using computer simulations

We calculate the excess chemical potential of methane in aqueous electrolyte solutions of NaCl using Monte Carlo computer simulations. In a recent work [Docherty et al. J. Chem. Phys. 2006, 125, 074510], we presented a new potential model for methane in water which is capable of describing accurately the excess chemical potential of methane in pure water over a range of temperatures, a quantity that can be related to the solubility and which is commonly used to study the hydrophobic effect. Here, we use the same potential model for the water-methane interactions and investigate the effect of added salt on the chemical potential of methane in the solution. The methane molecules are modeled as single Lennard-Jones (LJ) interaction sites, and the water molecules are modeled with the TIP4P/2005 model. A correcting factor of chi = 1.07 for the energetic Berthelot (geometric) combining rule of the methane-water interaction is also used, which mimics the polarization of methane in water. We consider NaCl as the salt and treat the ions with the Smith and Dang model (i.e., as charged LJ interaction sites). Ion-water, ion-ion, and ion-methane interactions are treated using Lorentz-Berthelot combining rules. In addition, the Coulombic potential is used to model charge-charge interactions which are calculated using the Ewald sum. We have carried out isobaric-isothermal (NpT) simulations to determine the equilibrium densities of the solutions. The simulation data is in excellent agreement with experimental densities of aqueous NaCl solutions of different concentration. Hydration numbers are also obtained and found to be in agreement with reported data. Canonical (NVT) simulations at the averaged densities are then performed using the Widom test-particle insertion method to obtain the excess chemical potential of methane in the saline solutions. An increase in the chemical potential of methane, corresponding to a salting out effect, is observed when salt is added to the solution. We investigate different concentrations and ion sizes. An overprediction of the salting out effect as compared with experimental data is observed, which we believe is due to the polarizing effect of the ions in the solution, which is not taken into account by the model. We also find a direct correlation between the increase in the chemical potential and the packing fraction of the solution and argue that the main cause of the observed salting out effect (as represented by an increase in the excess chemical potential) is the increase in the packing fraction of the solutions due to the added salt. Together, with this, we put forward an argument toward explaining the anomalous Hofmeister effect of Li(+).     

Conductivity of highly concentrated aqueous solutions of ammonium and cesium nitrates

The conductivity of the H₂O+NH₃NO₃+CsNO₃ system containing up to 5.80 stoichiometric mol% of CsNO₃ and water/ammonium nitrate mixture with a mol ratio (R_H) varying between 1 and 6 has been measured at temperatures ranging between 275 and 350 K. At a given composition, temperature-dependence of conductivity deviated slightly from Arrhenius behavior. Conductivity composition isotherms have been interpreted in terms of the effect of local liquid microstructure on the ionic conductivity. The occurrence of a maximum at ca. 18 mol% of electrolyte has been discussed on the basis of a free volume model of liquid transport.     

Microwave dielectric properties of aqueous solutions of potassium and cesium fluorides

The microwave dielectric properties of aqueous solutions of potassium and cesium fluorides are studied over a wide concentration range at frequencies of 13 to 25 GHz and temperatures of 288, 298, and 308 K. The static dielectric constant ?_s and the time τ and enthalpy of activation ΔH _? ⁺⁺ of dielectric relaxation for the solutions are calculated. It is demonstrated that, for fluorides, the disruptive effect of ions on the hydrogen bond network of water is weaker than that for the other halogenides.     

Thermal behaviour of titanium dioxide nanoparticles prepared by precipitation from aqueous solutions

Thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis, emanation thermal analysis, mass spectrometry detection, Fourier transform infrared and XRD were used to characterize thermal behaviour of titanium dioxide photocatalyst precursors prepared by precipitation at various conditions from peroxotitanic acid sols. The transmission electron microscopy HRTEM technique was used to characterize the surface microstructure. The sols contained TiO₂ anatase particles of approximately 10 nm in diameter. During heating of the air dried samples, their chemical degradation took place giving rise to anatase. On further heating, the crystallization of anatase and formation of rutile phase was observed. To test the photocatalytic activity of the samples, the decomposition of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) under ultraviolet and visible irradiation was monitored. It was shown that photocatalytic activities of the samples are comparable to the Degussa P25 photocatalyst reference material.     

Adsorption studies of cesium on potassium copper nickel hexacyanoferrate(II) from aqueous solutions

Adsorption of cesium from aqueous solutions on potassium copper nickel hexacyanoferrate(II) (KCNF) has been investigated in batch experiments and optimized as a function of concentration of acids, salts and adsorbate using a radiotracer technique. The results are presented in terms of distribution coefficient, K_d (ml·g^–1). The uptake of cesium obeys a Freundlich adsorption isotherm over the concentration range of 3.7 to 37 mmol·l^–1 with b values of 0.77, 0.68 and 0.56 at temperatures of 293, 313, 333 K, respectively. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm is followed in the concentration range of 15 to 75 mmol·l^–1 in the same temperature range. The values of limiting adsorption concentration (C_m) have been found to be 2.58, 2.44 and 2.32 mmol·g^–1. The heat of adsorption was calculated as 26.43 kJ·mol^–1. The influence of a number of anions and cations on cesium retention has also been studied. Column experiments have been performed and breakthrough have been obtained under different operating conditions. The low cesium capacity of 1.1 mmol·g^–1 has been obtained under dynamic conditions as compared to batch experiments. Desorption of cesium from the column has been achieved (45.4%) by nitric acid solution of 8M concentration at a flow rate of 0.5 ml·min^–1.     

60Co removal from aqueous solutions using charcoal

Charcoal, treated in different ways, can be used in the separation of⁶⁰Co from aqueous solutions. The cobalt species involved in the process were identified by high voltage electrophoresis. The best results were obtained using thermally and chemically treated charcoal with a maximum retention of 1.24 mmol cobalt per gram. It was also found that the cobalt was not desorbed from the chemically treated charcoal when washed with distilled water. However, it was eluted from the charcoal with 2.3N hydrochloric solution. Samples containing⁶⁰Co were analysed during the sorption process by gamma-ray spectrometry.