Ion exchange and chromatographic separation of cesium, strontium and europium from acidic streams using uranium antimonate

Abstract

Summary Ion exchange properties of cesium, strontium and europium on uranium antimonate (USb) from nitric acid medium was studied. The distribution coefficient (K d) of 1046 mL/g for cesium, 2464 mL/g for strontium and ∼105 mL/g for europium were obtained for sorption from 0.01 M nitric acid and K d decreased with increase in the concentration of nitric acid. Rapid sorption of metal ions in the initial stages of equilibration followed by the establishment of equilibrium after 24 hours. Cesium sorption on USb follows ideal ion exchange while strontium and europium do not. From Langmuir adsorption model for the sorption of these ions on USb, the apparent sorption capacity was found to be of 6.9 mg/g for cesium, 19.1 mg/g for strontium and 37.2 mg/g for europium at 300 K. The enthalpy change (ΔH°) accompanied by the sorption was determined by the temperature variation method. The performance of the sorbent under dynamic conditions was assessed by following a breakthrough (BT) curve up to C/C 0=1. Extraction chromatography of individual ions from the mixture using USb was also reported in this paper.