Sorption of 137Cs and 90Sr on Organic Sorbents

Abstract

The present study examines the sorption of Cs (I) and Sr (II) on organic sorbents in the pH range from 2 to 10, as well as the mechanisms of their binding. In order to determine the influence of the physical properties and the quantity of functional groups of the organic sorbents on sorption, experiments were carried out on organic materials of varying degrees of metamorphism: high-moor peat, hard and brown coals and shungite. A detailed description of their mineral composition, cation exchange capacity, buffering capacity and elemental composition of sorbents is provided. XRD, XRF, SEM and BET adsorption methods were used for assaying. As a result of the conducted research, it can be concluded that Sr (II) showed a higher sorption per unit specific surface area than Cs (I) in the studied range of concentrations and pH values. Sr (II) sorption decreases in the following order: high-moor peat > brown coal > shungite > hard coal. The sorption of Cs (I) is highest on brown coal and lesser for high-moor peat, shungite and hard coal. It is suggested that Cs (I) and Sr (II) can be fixed on carboxyl functional groups and Cs (I), possibly, in insignificant amounts on phenolic hydroxyls of all four studied organic sorbents.