A novel sorbent based on Ti-Ca-Mg phosphates: synthesis, characterization, and sorption properties

The Effect of Sorbent Composition on Sorption Properties of Materials Based on Ti-Ca-Mg Phosphates

Individual titanium and calcium-magnesium phosphates are widely known as effective sorbents. The sorption processes on these phosphates are based on different mechanisms. The sorption efficiency towards different cations depends on the phase composition of the sorbent. Composite materials with various ratio Ti:(Ca+Mg) have been synthesized. The sorption properties of samples obtained towards Cs⁺, Sr²⁺, Co²⁺, Cd²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Pb²⁺ have been studied to establish the effect of sorbent composition on metal removal. The adsorption isotherms have been analyzed using the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Redlich-Peterson models. The composition of sorbents has no effect on the level of removal of readily hydrolyzable Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ cations. Removal of lead occurs preferentially via the precipitation of metal phosphates and hydroxides. Copper precipitates as hydroxide in case of a high share of Ca-Mg phosphates in the composite sorbent. The removal of cesium proceeds according to the ion exchange mechanism only. For Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Sr²⁺, and Zn²⁺ cations, the sorption efficiency on the composite materials synthesized is found to increase with the increase in titanium phosphate's share in the sample. All composite sorbents synthesized demonstrated a considerable increase in the level of purification of solutions studied compared with individual Ti and Ca-Mg phosphates due to the synergism of the components.

Physical and Chemical Regularities of Phosphorus and Beryllium Recovery by the Sorbents Based on Acrylic Fiber Impregnated by Iron Hydroxide (III)

The paper investigates the physicochemical regularities (kinetics and isotherm) of phosphorus and beryllium recovery by sorbents based on polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fiber and Fe(OH)3 obtained by various methods: PAN or pre-hydrolyzed PAN with precipitation of FeCl3 with ammonia, using ready-made or electrochemically generated Na2FeO4, pre-hydrolyzed PAN treated with an alkaline solution of Na2FeO4, as well as their comparison with granular aluminum oxide. The Langmuir, Freudlich and Dubinin–Radushkevich models show high performance of materials for sorption of stable P and Be used as tracers for the release of 7Be, 32P, and 33P from seawater. The obtained kinetic data are processed using kinetic models of intraparticle diffusion and the pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Elovich models. Optimal conditions for obtaining sorbents are established, namely, the effect of NaOH concentration at the stages of preparation on the properties of sorbents based on the PAN fiber and Fe(OH)3 obtained by various methods.

Adsorption of Co(II) ions using Zr-Ca-Mg and Ti-Ca-Mg phosphates: adsorption modeling and mechanistic aspects

The environmental pollution by toxic Co(II) ions had a negative impact on living organisms and water resources. The amorphous Zr-Ca-Mg and Ti-Ca-Mg phosphates with varied Zr and Ti content with the mesoporous structure (A_BET = 19-232 m²/g, V_des. = 0.075-0.370 cm³/g, D_des. = 6.2-10.9 nm) were synthesized. The effect of adsorbent chemical composition, the presence of competing ions (0.1-1.0 M NaCl and 0.01-0.1 M CaCl₂ backgrounds), and pH (3.0-7.0) of aqueous solution on adsorption removal of Co(II) ions by Zr-Ca-Mg and Ti-Ca-Mg phosphates was studied. The highest adsorption capacity of Zr-Ca-Mg-1 and Ti-Ca-Mg-1 samples reached 253.3 and 212.8 mg/g. The prepared adsorbents demonstrated high efficiency at pH in the range of 3.0-7.0 and the presence of 0.1-1.0 M NaCl and seawater with a salinity of 35.0 g/L backgrounds. The chemisorption and ion-exchange mechanisms of Co(II) ions removal for Zr-Ca-Mg and Ti-Ca-Mg phosphates were proposed. The adsorption isotherms were well fitted with Sips and Langmuir models that proved the heterogeneous nature of adsorption sites as well as assumed the monolayer adsorption that occurs at specific homogeneous sites within the adsorbent without any interaction between the adsorbed substances. The kinetic data was well described by the pseudo-second-order model that is suitable for chemisorption processes as liming adsorption stage. The presented results shown the prospects of developed adsorbents for the investigation of real wastewater treatment from heavy metal ions and liquid radioactive waste purification.

Efficient separation of strontium radionuclides from high-salinity wastewater by zeolite 4A synthesized from Bayer process liquids

The efficient, selective, and economical sorbents for the removal of Sr radionuclides are largely needed for the decontamination of effluents with high salinity. In this study, the removal of Sr was investigated using the zeolite produced from the Bayer process liquids. Based on the XRD, SEM/EDS analysis, the product was pure and highly crystalline zeolite 4A (Z4A). Removal of Sr was fast (5 min for 100% removal at 8.80 mg/L), with high maximum sorption capacity (252.5 mg/L), and independent on the initial pH in the range 3.5-9.0. Specific sorption of Sr by protonated groups on the Z4A surface was operating in addition to ion-exchange with Na ions. The selectivity of Z4A decreased in the order Sr > Ca > K > Mg > Na. 84% of Sr was separated from seawater within 5 min, at the Z4A dose of 5 g/L, while efficiency increased to 99% using the dose of 20 g/L. Desorption of radioisotope ⁸⁹Sr from seawater/Z4A solid residue was very low in deionized water (0.1-0.2%) and groundwater (0.7%) during 60 days of leaching. Z4A is a cost-effective, selective, and high-capacity medium for Sr removal, which provides high stability of retained radionuclides.