Comparative studies on the adsorption of various radioactive nuclides from waste aqueous solutions on graphene oxide, inorganic and organic ion exchangers

Abstract

Adsorption of the radionuclides 141Ce, 140La, 140Ba, 137+134Cs, 131I, 125Sb, 103Ru, 95Nb and 95Zr are studied on graphene oxide from waste aqueous solution samples and their adsorption behaviors are compared to that on the inorganic ion exchanger Ceric tungstate as well as on the strong acidic cation exchanger Dowex-50X8 H+ form, the chelating resin Chelex-100 Na+ form and the strong basic anion exchanger AG-1X8 Cl− form. The waste samples are dilute aqueous solutions resulting from previous work. These solutions contained neither oxidizing nor reducing agents, consequently, it is expected that these radionuclides are existing in their most stable oxidation states, i.e. Ce(III), La(III), Ba(II), Cs(I), Ru(III) & (IV), Sb(III) & (V), Nb(V) and Zr(IV). The adsorption is studied under static conditions for all these radioactive nuclides in the presence of each other. Gamma radiometric analysis is carried out for these radionuclides. Effect of some factors on the adsorption is studied such as pH, graphene oxide particle sizes, contact time, temperature and other parameters. Complete removal of some radionuclides is achieved from these waste solutions by adsorption on graphene oxide. Some separation alternatives for some of these radionuclides are also achieved.