Fabrication of antimony oxide sorbent for sorption of some lanthanides from aqueous solutions

ABSTRACT

The sorption of certain lanthanides from aqueous solutions is the focus of this work using antimony oxide (Sb₂O₅) sorbent. Sb₂O₅ sorbent was prepared using the precipitation technique, and it has been described using several analytical methods such as Fourier-transformed infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The sorption data were collected on Y(III), Ce(III), and Gd(III) including the effects of pH, shaking time, initial metal concentrations, and temperature. The results revealed that saturation capacity has values of (30.6, 27.5, and 24.1 mg/g) for Y(III), Ce(III), and Gd(III), respectively. The sorption of the studied cations is dependent on pH. The reaction kinetics obeyed the pseudo-2nd-order model, and thermodynamics was endothermic and spontaneous. Sorption isotherms are more relevant to a Langmuir isotherm, whose monolayer capacity values are 27.9, 23.2, and 19.8 mg/g for Y(III), Ce(III), and Gd(III), respectively. The real sample applications illustrate the superiority of antimony oxide sorbent in the removal of Y(III), Ce(III), and Gd(III) from high-grade monazite (HGM).

KEYWORDS:

• Lanthanides
• antimony oxide sorbent
• reaction kinetic
• thermodynamics
• sorption isotherms
• high-grade monazite

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

M. R. Abass

M. R. Abass is a lecturer of inorganic chemistry, Nuclear Fuel Department, Hot Laboratories and Waste Management Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, P. Code 13759, Cairo, Egypt.

R. A. Abou-Lilah

R. A. Abou-Lilah is a lecturer of inorganic chemistry, Nuclear Fuel Department, Hot Laboratories and Waste Management Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, P. Code 13759, Cairo, Egypt.

A. E. Kasem

A. E. Kasem is a lecturer of inorganic chemistry, Environmental Radioactive Pollution Department, Hot Laboratories and Waste Management Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, P. Code 13759, Cairo, Egypt.