Cesium Ion Removal from Low-Level Radioactive Wastewater Utilizing Synthesized Cobalt Hexacyanoferrate-Sand Composite

Here, a novel method of synthesis of a sand-based adsorbent for radioactive Cs+ ion removal is reported. Natural sand has been modified with cobalt hexacyanoferrate (CoHCF) using a simple and effective approach. The detailed physical-chemical characterization of the synthesized adsorbent is carried out using XRD, XPS, UV-visible, FT-IR, ICP-AES and Raman spectroscopy. Cs+ ion batch adsorption studies were conducted radio-analytically, and the sorbent's adsorption capability was observed to be similar to 5 mg g(-1). The batch studies revealed that Cs+ ion was selectively adsorbed throughout a broad pH range of 1-10. The rate-controlling steps in the adsorption process, according to kinetic studies, are film diffusion and intraparticular diffusion and the adsorption process follows a second-order kinetics.