Sorption behavior of cesium and europium radionuclides onto nano-sized calcium silicate

ABSTRACT

A nominal calcium silicate was prepared through wet route and investigated as sorbent for the removal of long-lived radionuclides ¹³⁴Cs and ^{152 + 154}Eu from aqueous solutions. The physicochemical properties of the prepared nonmaterial such as FT–IR, SEM, XRD and TEM were examined. Sorption of both ¹³⁴Cs and ^{152 + 154}Eu onto the nanomaterial from aqueous solutions was evaluated in a consignment technique with regard to the temperature, pH and contact time. The kinetics of adsorption of ¹³⁴Cs and ^{152 + 154}Eu have been discussed using three kinetic models namely, pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and Elovich models. The results designated that the second-order model could describe the sorption kinetics for the two metal ions. The present work launches a new trend of research by considering the nano-calcium silicate as an engineered barrier around the disposal facilities at the nuclear activity centers.

KEYWORDS:

• Cesium and Europium
• sorption
• calcium silicate
• kinetics
• thermodynamics