Synthesis and sorption behavior of semicrystalline sodium titanate as a new cation exchanger

A new form of semicrystalline sodium titanate was synthesized at high temperature (1100-1150 °C) by a reaction of TiO₂ with Na₂CO₃ in an equimolar ratio. The obtained product was characterized using IR, DTA-TG, X-ray diffraction and elemental analyses. According to X-ray patterns, H₂Ti₅O₁₁ ^. nH₂O with monoclinic structure has been formed on dehydration of semicrystalline sodium titanate. Kinetic studies of the order and activation energy of a new phase transformation have been determined from DTA-thermograms. The ion exchange behavior of semicrystalline sodium titanate was studied at different g-doses as well as at different drying temperatures. The laboratory-scale ion exchange capacity, distribution studies and exchange performance for some radionuclides of a thermally prepared material were investigated. It was found that the exchange capacity was not changed after 100 kGy irradiation. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.