Adsorption of cesium and cobalt onto dried Myriophyllum spicatum L. from radio-contaminated water: Experimental and theoretical study

Abstract

In the present study, ground dry powder of Myriophyllum spicatum L. was utilized for adsorption of cobalt and cesium dissolved in water to imitate an aqueous solution contaminated with stable or radioactive elements. The dried biomass was characterized by FT-IR. The adsorption behavior was evaluated with varying various factors such as time effect, concentration of metal ion, temperature and pH-value to find out kinetic and equilibrium isotherms parameters. The experimental results indicated that about 85% of Co and more than 50% of Cs were efficiently removed from contaminated water by using the dried plant of M. spicatum L. as a function of metal concentration. Moreover, the equilibrium data were carried out by extrapolation of the “Langmuir” and “Freundlich” isotherms. Pseudo-first order, pseudo-second- order and intra-particular diffusion models were applied for the kinetic study. Based on the experimental and theoretical data obtained, it is suggested that dried biomass of M. spicatum L. could be used as an inexpensive and efficient natural adsorbent material of reasonable efficiency for the accumulation of cobalt and cesium metals from aqueous solutions.