Carbon obtained from waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers as potential sorbent of radionuclides from the contaminated aqueous solutions

Abstract

Waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) beverage containers have been carbonized in a nitrogen stream and chemically treated to obtain activated carbon. The potential sorbent has been physico-chemically characterized and tested for use in the solidification of liquid radioactive waste (LRW). For this purpose, we have determined main factors describing adsorption of the selected radioactive metals. It was found that adsorption process fulfils Freundlich and kinetic pseudo-second-order models. It has been also shown that activation of the raw PET carbon with using the ZnCl2 solution leads to the best adsorption results of the radionuclides. Activated carbon obtained within this work appeared to be a potential candidate for a low-cost, chemically stable adsorbent for water decontamination. Procedures for the carbonization and activation need, however, to be improved. Activated carbon obtained from waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) beverage containers appeared to be a potential candidate for a low-cost, chemically stable adsorbent for water decontamination and the management of radioactive liquid wastes (LRW).