Encapsulation of ammonium molybdophosphate for removal of selected radionuclides from multicomponent solution in a fixed-bed column

Abstract

ABSTRACT Encapsulation of the fine powder of ammonium molybdophosphate (AMP) was carried out to produce AMP-Ca-alginate composite beads for removal of Cs+, U6+, Co2+ and Sr2+ ions from multicomponent media using a fixed-bed column. The results denote that the initial concentration (50, 100 and 200 mg/L from each ion), bed length (3, 6 and 8 cm) and flow rates (0.5, 1.5 and 2 mL/min) affect the sorption operation. The column performance was 40, 37.5, 32.34 and 31.7% for Cs+, U6+, Co2+ and Sr2+, respectively. Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models were utilised to forecast the breakthrough curves for adsorption. The two models are found as well-fitted models for investigated ions adsorption system except for the adsorption of Cs+ is more fitted for the Thomas model at a high flow rate. Marquardt’s percent standard deviation error function was used and confirmed these results. Good separation of strontium and caesium with a purity of 100% from this multi-component solution is accomplished by elution using 4 M of NaNO3 and HNO3 solution. The desorption percent of the loaded ions was 98, 91, 76 and 37.5% for Cs+, Sr2+, U6+ and Co2+, respectively. Overall, AMP-Ca-alginate composite beads are an environmentally friendly potential sorbent for hazardous ions from multicomponent media.