Sorption of 137Cs, 133Ba and 154Eu by synthesized sodium aluminosilicate (Na-AS)

Abstract Sodium aluminosilicate has been synthesized by solution route for use as a sorbent for various radionuclides. It was characterized by XRD, zeta potential, BET surface area, FTIR spectroscopy and site density measurement. Sorption studies of 137 Cs, 133 Ba and 154 Eu on synthesized sodium aluminosilicate have been carried out at varying pH (3–10). Sorption of all the metal ions was found to increase with pH of suspension with the saturation value increasing with the oxidation state of metal ion. Effect of Aldrich humic acid (2 mg/l) on sorption was also investigated. In case of 137 Cs, the sorption was not affected by the presence of humic acid, while in case of 133 Ba and 154 Eu, sorption was enhanced at lower pH and decreased at higher pH in presence of HA. A series of experiments were carried out for 154 Eu sorption on sodium aluminosilicate at various conditions. Sorption of europium was analyzed by different sorption isotherms, viz., Freundlich and D-R isotherm. Thermodynamic data reveal sorption phenomena as endothermic and spontaneous. Studies were further extended to find out effect of diverse ions (Ca 2+ and CO 3 2− ) on sorption of europium.