Removal of Co and Cs Ions from Low Radioactive Solutions Using Willd

This study concerns the removal of the Cs and Co β+γ-radioactive ions in Willd. water fern. The living fern and two different types of biosorbent prepared from were tested to remove the above–mentioned radioactive ions from dilute solutions, in the absence and in the presence of the ionic competition. Effective Cs and Co ions removal from low radioactive wastewaters was demonstrated. The time–dependent K(t) values were calculated from the absorption data. These results indicate that removal process achieved equilibrium in about 120 min and that it involves two steps: rapid and slow absorption; the active process (metabolic bioaccumulation on the living fern) was responsible for above one half of the total removal process. A thin layer radiochromatography study leads to the conclusion that the biochemical components in which Cs and Co place themselves are of a polysaccharide and lipoid fractions.