Mamdoh R. Mahmoud

Kinetics of ion flotation of Co(II)–EDTA complexes from aqueous solutions

Abstract The flotation kinetics of Co(II)-EDTA complexes from aqueous solutions using cetylpyridinium chloride (CPyCl) is studied and discussed in the present work. The effects of many variables on the ultimate recovery and the flotation rate are investigated. The data obtained from solutions of different pH values showed that Co(II)-EDTA complexes are successfully floated at pH 7.8. While at pH 3.4 and 11.2, both the ultimate recovery and the flotation rate are dependent on the concentration of CPyCl. Flotation of Co(II)-EDTA at different air flow rates, CPyCl concentrations and ionic strength showed that the ultimate recovery and the flotation rate are markedly affected. The other parameters (cobalt, EDTA and ethanol concentrations) had no effect on the ultimate recovery, while significantly affected the flotation rate. At the optimum conditions (Co(II) : EDTA = 1:1; CPyCl : Co(II) = 4:1; pH7.8; G = 25 cm3/min), removals more than 99% are achieved for radiocobalt. The classical first-order and the second-order kinetic models are used throughout the work to analyze the experimental kinetic data. At all the studied parameters, the kinetic data of Co(II)-EDTA complexes are better fitted to the classical first-order model.

Adsorption behavior of samarium(III) from aqueous solutions onto PAN@SDS core-shell polymeric adsorbent

Abstract Adsorption behavior of samarium(III) radionuclides from aqueous solutions onto a novel polyacrylonitrile coated with sodium dodecyl sulfate (PAN@SDS), prepared by gamma radiation-induced polymerization, was studied in this work. The developed polymeric adsorbent was characterized by FT-IR, X-ray diffraction and N2 adsorption-desorption. The influence of some experimental parameters such as pH, initial samarium(III) concentration, SDS concentration, temperature, ionic strength and contact time on the adsorption efficiency of samarium(III) was evaluated. Results showed that adsorption efficiency of about 97% was attained for samarium(III) in the pH range 3.8–7.5. The kinetic study showed that samarium(III) was efficiently removed within 10 min and equilibrium was attained at around 30 min. Six isotherm models; Freundlich, Langmuir, Generalized, Redlich–Peterson, Toth and Sips, were used to fit the adsorption equilibrium data, and the best-fit three-parameter isotherms suggest that adsorption capacity of PAN@SDS for samarium(III) to be 97.73 mg g–1, which is a markedly high value compared to most of the other adsorbents reported for other metal ions. Using the Dubinin–Kaganer–Radushkevich (DKR) model, the mean free energy E was calculated as 1.569 kJ mol-1, which suggested that adsorption of samarium(III) was dominated by physisorption. Results of the thermodynamic parameters, ΔGo, ΔSo and ΔHo, showed that adsorption of samarium(III) onto PAN@SDS was feasible, spontaneous and exothermic in nature. Of the various studied kinetic models, the experimental kinetic data were best fitted to the modified multiplex model, and the adsorption process was mainly controlled by particle diffusion. Desorption studies showed that 95% of samarium(III) loaded on PAN@SDS were recovered using 2 mol L–1 HCl.

Removal of Thoron and Arsenazo III from radioactive liquid waste by sorption onto cetyltrimethylammonium-functionalized polyacrylonitrile

A surfactant-functionalized polyacrylonitrile (SFPAN) was synthesized in the present investigation via gamma radiation-induced polymerization and was applied for sorbing two hazardous organics, Thoron (TH) and Arsenazo III (ARIII), from radioactive liquid waste. Efficient removals were achieved for both organics over a wide range of pH. The sorption kinetic studies of TH and ARIII revealed that the equilibrium time is significantly dependent on the solution pH. Among the tested sorption kinetic models, the kinetic data of TH and ARIII fit well to the pseudo-second-order one. The sorption equilibrium data obtained for TH and ARIII were analyzed using Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) isotherm models. The obtained results demonstrated that the equilibrium data are well described by Freundlich and D–R models. The calculated values of the sorption energy (E) and the Gibbs free energy change (ΔGo) suggested that the sorption process of TH and ARIII onto SFPAN is governed by physisorption. SFPAN was further tested for the uptake of the concerned organics from radioactive process wastewater. The obtained results suggest its applicability for the treatment of liquid organic radioactive wastes.

Impregnated activated carbon for the adsorption of Gd(III) radionuclides from aqueous solutions

ABSTRACT Activated carbons (ACs) impregnated by FeCl3, SnCl4 and ZnCl2 are used as adsorbents for the removal of Gd(III) radionuclides from aqueous solutions. Adsorption of Gd(III) is investigated as a function of pH, concentration of adsorbate, contact time, ionic strength and temperature. Gadolinium is efficiently removed (R% > 95%) at pH values ≥4.8 (for FeAC and SnAC) and 2.9 (for ZnAC). The pseudo-first-order, the pseudo-second-order and Elovich kinetic models are used to analyze the kinetic data of Gd(III), at the studied concentrations (30, 100 and 200 mg/L) onto the employed materials. Of these models, Elovich is the only one that well-fitted the experimental kinetics onto the applied materials at all of the studied Gd(III) concentrations. Equilibrium data of Gd(III) are analyzed by the Freundlich, Temkin, Dubnin–Radushkevich (D-R) and Redlich–Petrson isotherm models. The adsorption efficiency of Gd(III) onto FeAC and SnAC is deleteriously affected by increasing the ionic strength, while adsorption onto ZnAC is unaffected. The thermodynamic parameters are calculated and it is revealed that the adsorption of Gd(III) onto the employed materials is an endothermic process. Desorption studies of Gd(III)-loaded ACs are performed using different desorbing agents (HCl, ZnCl2, FeCl3 and SnCl4) at various concentrations (0.0005, 0.0025, 0.01 and 0.025 M).

Evaluation of sorptive flotation technique for enhanced removal of radioactive Eu(III) from aqueous solutions

Abstract The present study aims at the removal of Eu(III) from aqueous solutions by sorptive flotation process. This process involves adsorption of Eu(III) onto bentonite and kaolinite clays followed by floatation using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) collectors. The effect of adsorption parameters (pH, contact time, clay weight, Eu(III) concentration, ionic strength) as well as flotation parameters (collector and frother concentrations, bubbling time, concentrations of foreign cations and anions) on the removal efficiency of Eu(III) were studied. The obtained results show that Eu(III) ions are removed efficiently (R% ~ 95%) at pH=4 after 1 h shaking with clay and 15 min floatation. The adsorption kinetics of Eu(III) onto the employed clays followed the pseudo-second-order model and the equilibrium data fitted well to the Freundlich isotherm model.

The sorption mechanism of Selenium-75 on Amberlite MB9L

The sorption mechanism of 75Se(IV) on Amberlite MB9L is investigated under a wide range of pH, initial concentration, and resin weight to give a proper solution for the decontamination as a result of radioactive selenium. The sorption ability of is found to be high except in highly acidic environment. A monolayer exchange mechanism is confirmed and the reaction rate is found to be controlled by diffusion. The overall equilibrium equation and sorption parameters are estimated. Thus, Amberlite MB9L can be used as barrier to avoid the release of radioactive selenium from the stored nuclear wastes when exposed to groundwater.

Removal of radiocobalt from aqueous solutions by adsorption onto low-cost adsorbents

Four clays (bentonite, montmorillonite, diatomite and sepiolite) were used as low-cost adsorbents for removal of Co(II) radionuclides. The effect of the solution pH was studied in the range 1.5–10. The kinetic data were analyzed by the pseudo-first-order, the pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion models. The equilibrium isotherms of Co(II) were analyzed by Langmuir and Freundlich models. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔGo, ΔHo and ΔSo) were calculated and the results showed that the present adsorption processes are feasible, spontaneous and endothermic in nature. Desorption experiments of Co(II)-loaded clays suggested that adsorption of Co(II) was governed by physical adsorption and surface complexation.

Efficient decontamination of naturally occurring radionuclide from aqueous carbonate solutions by ion flotation process

Abstract The present study evaluates the performance of ion flotation process for removal of uranyl tricarbonate complex, UO2(CO3)34−, which is the dominant species in many aqueous media particularly seawater, from aqueous solutions using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB, as a cationic surfactant. Flotation of UO2(CO3)34− as a function in the solution pH is investigated in absence and in presence of carbonate. Removal percentage >99% is achieved in the pH range 8.5–11.5 in presence of 5×10−3 M carbonate. The influence of concentrations of ethanol (0.1–2% v/v) and CTAB (5×10−5–1.4×10−3 M) show that UO2(CO3)34− is efficiently removed at concentrations of 0.5–1.5% v/v and 4×10−4–1×10−3 M, respectively. Based on the obtained kinetic data, the flotation mechanism and the flotation rate are investigated using two different flotation models. Floatability of UO2(CO3)34− in presence of different cations (Ba2+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Sr2+) and anions (NO3−, Br−, Cl−, SO42− and HPO42−) is studied. Except for Mg2+ and NO3−, the flotation efficiency of UO2(CO3)34− is significantly decreased at concentrations higher than 1×10−3 and 5×10−3 M of the studied cations and anions, respectively. Ion flotation process is efficiently applied for removal of uranium(VI), R%>98.5%, from seawater. Accordingly, ion flotation can be considered as a promising technique and thus its feasibility for removal and/or recovery of uranium(VI) from many aqueous environment.

Kinetic studies on radio-selenium uptake by ion exchange resin

ABSTRACT Kinetic studies on the sorption of radioactive Se (IV) ion on Amberlite MB9L have been carried out under a wide range of temperature, pH, initial concentration, and resin weight. Analyses of the experimental data by two theoretical models commonly used to explain the ion exchange kinetics and shrinking core model (SCM), and homogeneous diffusion model (HDM) against exponential diffusion decay model (EDM) show a greater preference of EDM over HDM and SCM at all reaction conditions. The obtained regression coefficient values in case of HDM and SCM are in general not high enough to give a satisfactory fit for the experimental data. The estimated values for EDM parameters provides a good satisfactory fit for the yielded adsorption results as the corresponding linear regression values are high. The sorption process is found to be accompanied with fast film diffusion and slow diffusion between the reacted layer and the shrinking un-reacted core within the ion exchange resin. It also shows that ion exchange as the controlling step offers the lowest probability due to the highest obtained diffusion parameters over the normal tested reaction conditions.