Radiochemical separation by magnesium oxide adsorption and applications

The radioactive tracer technique was used to investigate the adsorption behaviour of 47 ions onto hydrous magnesium oxide. Detailed studies on Co(II), Zn(II), La(III) and Ce(III) reveal that the adsorption isotherms of these ions obey Langmuir's law. Radiochemical separation using hydrous magnesium oxide was applied to the RNAA of NBS standard reference materials, and satisfactory results were obtained. Hydrous magnesium oxide was also used to adsorb various ions from aqueous solution for the purpose of preconcentration which was followed by NAA or ICP-AES analysis. Satisfactory results have been observed in both methods.