Abstract
An organic–inorganic ion exchanger namely sodium titanosilicate-polyacrylonitrile (STS-PAN) composite was synthesized and used for the adsorption of 137Cs from a typical aqueous solution. The physicochemical behavior of the ion exchanger was specified with different techniques including Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), specific surface analysis (BET), thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), scanning election microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and CHN elemental analysis. The thermal and gamma irradiation stability of the synthesized ion exchanger was investigated. It was observed that the ion exchanger is stable up to 275 °C and against gamma irradiation up to 200 KGy. The effects of pH, contact time, ambient temperature, and presence of various cations on adsorption rate of STS-PAN were also studied and the optimum conditions obtained. In addition, thermodynamic parameters were evaluated during the adsorption. The values of the enthalpy and the Gibbs free energy suggest an endothermic and spontaneous process. Adsorption isotherm in batch experiment showed that the sorption data were successfully fitted with Langmuir model. Finally the adsorption dynamic capacity of the synthesized composite in a columnar experiment as well as its elution was evaluated. The complete breakthrough curve was generated at a feed rate of 15 bed volume per hour and sorbent capacities were obtained at 5 and 100% breakthrough.
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