SYNTHESIS, SORPTION AND KINETIC CHARACTERISTICS OF SILICA-HEXACYANOFERRATE COMPOSITES

Abstract

The precipitation behaviour of the compounds in the system, divalent metal-hexacyanoferrate(II)-sodium silicate, has been investigated. Under suitable conditions, copper, cobalt and nickel-based composite sorbents have been prepared. These sorbents were very effective in removing cesium from neutral solutions. In regard to exchange capacities, copper hexacyanoferrate (Cu-Hcf) composites exhibited highest values and these values were found to be independent of silica content. Similarly, rates of cesium uptake also were higher and these rates were not affected by granulation of copper-based materials. There was little decrease in the rates in hydrazine containing nitric acid solutions. Several cycles of batchwise sorption and desorption operations were performed with Cu-Hcf composites and quantitative recovery of cesium from loaded sorbents was achieved using nitric acid