Removal of radiocobalt from aqueous solution by Mg2Al layered double hydroxide

The adsorption behavior of radiocobalt by Mg₂Al layered double hydroxide (Mg₂Al LDH) was studied as a function of contact time, pH, ionic strength, foreign ions, FA and temperature under ambient conditions. The results showed that the kinetic adsorption could be described by a pseudo-second order model very well. The adsorption of Co(II) on Mg₂Al LDH was strongly dependent on pH and ionic strength. The presence of FA enhanced the adsorption of Co(II) on Mg₂Al LDH at low pH, whereas reduced Co(II) adsorption at high pH. The Langmuir model fitted the adsorption isotherms of Co(II) better than the Freundlich and D–R model at three different temperatures of 303, 323 and 343 K. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔH°, ΔS° and ΔG°) calculated from the temperature dependent adsorption isotherms indicated that the adsorption process of Co(II) on Mg₂Al LDH was endothermic and spontaneous. The results show that Mg₂Al LDH is a promising material for the preconcentration and separation of pollutants from large volumes of aqueous solutions.