Combustion Synthesis of BaCO3 and its Application for Eu(III) Adsorption from Aqueous Solution

Abstract

A combustion method using urea as fuel and barium nitrate as oxidant was applied for the synthesis of barium carbonate, which was characterized by XRD, IR, SEM, and BET. A batch technique was employed to study the Eu(III) adsorption from an aqueous solution using BaCO3. It was found that the adsorption process attains equilibrium within 3 hours and depends upon the pH, europium concentration, and temperature. The kinetic data of the process could be fitted by means of the pseudo-second order and the intraparticle mass transfer diffusion models, whereas the isotherm by means of the Langmuir equation. Thermodynamic parameters indicate that the process is spontaneous and endothermic in nature. These results suggest that BaCO3 is an effective material for Eu(III) adsorption from aqueous solutions. The findings of this study could be relevant for heterogeneous catalytic processes as well have an environmental impact.