Abstract
In this study, we investigated the removal of Cs from aqueous solutions using geomaterials. Adsorption was chosen as an effective method to develop for the removal of Cs from radioactive waste liquids. Geomaterials, including fly ash and slag as raw materials, were prepared as adsorbents using an alkali activator. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD); scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS); and BET surface area, pore volume, and pore size analysis. The effects of various parameters, such as pH, contact time, and adsorbent dosage on the adsorption of the Cs were studied. The partition coefficient (PC) as well as the adsorption capacity were evaluated to assess the true performance of the adsorbent in this work. The fly ash-based geomaterials showed a maximum Cs adsorption capacity of 89.32 mg·g−1 and a high PC of 31.02 mg·g−1·mM−1 for the Cs under our experimental conditions. From this work, this method can be regarded being practical for use as a potential adsorbent for treating Cs in wastewater. Furthermore, the immobilization of Cs in geomaterials was explored from a chemical perspective. In conclusion, fly ash-based geomaterials may be a promising option for the treatment and disposal of nuclear-contaminated waste.
Highlights
With the development of modern science and technology, nuclear energy has been widely applied in industry, national defense, agriculture, medicine, and scientific research.radioactive waste liquid has been produced with the rapid development of the nuclear industry
The fly ash and slag were used as geomaterials, and the Portland cement was used as a reference material
The maximum adsorption capacity of Cs was obtained at pH 8, which may be related to the alkaline nature of the geomaterials
Summary
With the development of modern science and technology, nuclear energy has been widely applied in industry, national defense, agriculture, medicine, and scientific research.radioactive waste liquid has been produced with the rapid development of the nuclear industry. Due to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in Japan in 2011, a significant amount of radioactive material leaked, and a substantial volume of wastewater containing radioactive cesium (Cs) was discharged. As these waste liquids are radioactive and can cause immeasurable harm to the environment and human bodies. The continued harm caused by the nuclear leakage accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant once again sounds the alarm for humankind [3,4,5,6] Due to this disaster, the removal of radioactive cesium as well as strontium in water has gained considerable attention from many scholars around the world
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