Toxicologia Ambiental e Analítica

Sorption Potential of Epoxy/Pac Composite for the Removal of Cs+ ion from Aqueous Solutions

Abstract

H. S. Hassan, M.M. El-Toony and A. M. El-Kamash

Simultaneous Gamma irradiation was used to prepare Epoxy/Pac porous resin. Characterizations of the polymer using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscope were performed. The sorption potential of polymer for removal of Cs+ from liquid solutions has been investigated. The influences of pH, contact time between liquid and solid phases, initial metal ion concentration, and temperature have been evaluated. Equilibrium isotherms were determined to assess the maximum sorption capacity of polymer for the studied ion. Desorption and durability measurements of the polymer confirmed their use from cost benefit point of view. The equilibrium sorption data were analyzed using Freundlich, Langmuir and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm models. All tested models fit the data reasonably well in terms of regression coefficients. Sorption studies were also performed at different temperatures to obtain the thermodynamic parameters of the process. The numerical value of ΔG0 decreases with an increase in temperature, indicating that the sorption reaction of each ion is more favorable at higher temperature. The positive values of ΔH0 correspond to the endothermic nature of sorption processes.