Tao Zuyi

Effect of fulvic acids on sorption of U(VI), Zn, Yb, I and Se(IV) onto oxides of aluminum, iron and silicon

The sorption of Yb3+, UO22+, Zn2+, I- and SeO32- onto Al2O3, Fe2O and SiO2 were determined by a batch technique in the presence and absence of fulvic acids. The effects of fulvic acid on sorption were compared. The existing general consensus, that humic substances tend to enhance metal cation sorption at low pH, reduce metal cation sorption at high pH and reduce inorganic anion sorption between pH values 3 to 10, was generally shown to be true. However, in this work many exceptions to the general consensus were found. The study indicated that the effect of humic substances on sorption of inorganic cations or anions depends not only on pH, but also on the nature of the oxide, the nature of humic substance, fractionation of the humic substance by sorption, the relative strength of complexes of both soluble and sorbed humic substances, the extent of surface coverage by humic substance, the initial concentration of humic substance and the inorganic electrolyte composition

Sorption and desorption of Eu and Yb on alumina: mechanisms and effect of fulvic acid.

The effects of pH, ionic strength and FA (fulvic acid) on the sorption and desorption of Eu(III) and Yb(III) on alumina were respectively investigated by using batch technique and radiotracers 152 + 154Eu and 169Yb. The distribution coefficients for sorption and desorption of Eu on alumina at pH 4.4, 4.6 and 5.7 in 1 mol/l NaCl solutions as a function of solid phase concentration were determined in the presence or absence of FA. The effects of pH, FA and ionic strength on the distribution coefficients for sorption and desorption of Yb on alumina were determined in 0.01-2.0 mol/l NaNO3. It was found that pH and FA influenced the sorption of Eu(III) and Yb(III) on alumina greatly. A surface hydrolysis model can satisfactorily and qualitatively explain the observations on bare alumina. The competition among the complexations of surface free hydroxyl groups, soluble and sorbed fulvic acids can satisfactorily and qualitatively explain the observations on the coated alumina.

Sorption of uranyl ions on silica: Effects of contact time, pH, ionic strength, concentration and phosphate

The sorption of UO22+ and phosphate on silica were simultaneously studied. The effect of contact time between the solid phase and aqueous solution, pH and ionic strength on the UO22+ sorption in the absence and the presence of phosphate was investigated. The effect of contact time between the solid phase and aqueous solution, pH and ionic strength on the phosphate sorption was investigated too. The isotherms of UO22+ and phosphate sorption at different pH values were determined. It was found that as compared with the sorption in the absence of phosphate, the sorption of UO22+ on silica in the presence of phosphate is increased at low pH and decreased at high pH; the abruptly increased with increasing pH in the pH range 3-6; the sorption is gradually decreased with increasing pH in the pH range 2-12; the sorption insensitive and the sorption of phosphate is sensitive to ionic strength.

Comparative study on Th(IV) sorption on alumina and silica from aqueous solutions

The effects of pH, ionic strength and concentration on the sorption of Th(IV) on alumina and silica were investigated and the sorption isotherms of Th(IV) on alumina and silica at different pH values were determined. It was found for both sorbents that the absorbability of silica is less than that of alumina. The relative sorption rate of silica is similar to that of alumina. The sorption edges are similar to each other, that the insensitivity of sorption to ionic strength is about the same. These similarities between the sorbents suggest that the speciation of Th(IV) in aqueous solutions plays a significant, but subtle role, in controlling the sorption process, because the charges of both sorbents are distinctly different. The mechanism of Th(IV) sorption on alumina is distinctly different from that of the sorptions of Cs+, Eu3+ and Yb3+ on alumina, and similar to that of the sorption of Co(II) on alumina.

Effects of pH and metal ions on the conformation of bovine serum albumin in aqueous solution An attenuated total reflection (ATR) FTIR spectroscopic study

Abstract The Hummel-Dreyer gel permeation technique has been applied to investigate the binding of bovine serum albumin (BSA) with Zn 2+ and Cd 2+ , and has provided evidence for the existence of two different types of binding sites in the BSA molecule. The effects of pH and the presence of metal ions Zn 2− and Cd 2+ on the conformation of BSA were investigated using ATR FTIR Spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that there were different conformational states in BSA at pH 5.0 and 9.0. Furthermore, we observed the spectral changes of BSA in the amide I region and major metal ion (Zn 2+ and Cd 2+ ) binding sites which were CO and CN groups of BSA.

Sorption characteristics of zinc(II) by calcareous soil–radiotracer study

65Zn was used as a radiotracer to study the sorption characteristics of zinc by two calcareous soils from Gansu Province (China). The sorption and desorption isotherms of Zn on two untreated calcareous soils and on two soils treated to remove CaCO3 were determined at 20 +/- 2 degrees C, pH 7.8 +/- 0.2 in the presence of 0.001 mol/l CaCl2. The contribution of CaCO3 to the Zn sorption by the two calcareous soils was approximately 70% of the total amount sorbed and the sorption-desorption hysteresis was definitely demonstrated, thus the CaCO3 in calcareous soil is undoubtedly the most significant sink for zinc at high pH range.

Use of the ion exchange method for the determination of stability constants of trivalent metal complexes with humic and fulvic acids II. Tb3+, Yb3+ and Gd3+ complexes in weakly alkaline conditions

The conditional stability constants for tracer concentrations of Tb(III), Yb(II), and Gd(III) with three soil humic acids, three soil fulvic acids and a fulvic acid from weathered coal were determined at pH 9.0-9.1 (these values are similar to those in calcareous soils) in the presence of NaHCO3 by using the anion exchange method. It was found that 1:1 and 1:2 complexes were simultaneously formed in the weakly alkaline conditions. The conditional stability constants of these 1:1 and 1:2 complexes were calculated from the distribution coefficients of rare earth elements at various concentrations of humate or fulvate. The stability constants indicate the very high stability of trivalent Tb3+, Yb3+ and Gd3+ complexes with humic substances in weakly alkaline conditions. The key parameters necessary for the experimental determination of the conditional stability constants of metal ions with humic substances in the presence of NaHCO3 by using an anion exchange method were discussed. The conditional stability constants of these 1:1 and 1:2 complexes were compared in this paper. It was found that stabilities of Tb3+ 1:1 and 1:2 complexes with humic acid are greater than the corresponding ones with fulvic acid from the same soil. In addition, the effect of the presence of Ca2+ as a competitor on the stabilities of 1:1 and 1:2 complexes of Yb was examined and no pronounced change of stabilities of 1:1 complex was found, even though Ca2+ is in a 10(3) excess to Yb3+.

ADSORPTION AND DESORPTION STUDIES OF RADIOCESIUM ON AL2O3 FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS

The adsorption and the desorption of radiocesium from aqueous solutions containing NaNO3 or CaCl2 on Al2O3 were studied over a wide range of background electrolyte concentration and solution pH by using batch techniques in polyethylene and glass test tubes. It was found that the wall of the glass test tubes has a great effect on the adsorption and desorption data, and the adsorption-desorption hysteresis on the same time scale is negligible by using the same aqueous solutions for both adsorption and desorption in the polyethylene test tubes. The dependences of the distribution coefficient on the pH and background electrolyte concentration and the adsorption mechanism were discussed.

Sorption of Radiocobalt on Bentonite and Kaolinite

The factors affecting the sorption of radiocobalt by bentonite and kaolinite were studied with the aim to assess important factors which should be included in modelling radiocobalt migration in soils and waters. The distribution coefficients of radiocobalt sorption on bentonite and kaolinite from aqueous solutions were determined by using the batch method, and it was found that they were insensitive to the loading, the initial pH, the ionic strength, the humic substance and the sorption direction. Thus, the sorption characteristics of radiocobalt on bentonite and kaolinite facilitated the mathematical modelling of radiocobalt migration. In addition, the sorption kinetics and the sorption mechanism of radiocobalt on bentonite and kaolinite were also examined.

Sorption and desorption of radiocesium on calcareous soil: Results from batch and column investigations

The sorption and desorption of radiocesium on a calcareous soil from Jiuqian County of Gansu Province (China) were studied by using batch and column experiments. The sorption-desorption isotherms and the breakthrough curves, displacement curves on the whole soil and two treated soils were determined. Based on these results, it was found that the sorption and retention of cesium are mainly determined by the clay minerals, that the sorption-desorption hysteresis of cesium on the calcareous soil is obvious and that the organic matter has a little positive contribution and the calcium carbonate has a little negative contribution to the sorption of cesium on the whole soil. The results from batch experiments were consistent with the results from column experiments.