Sorption studies of europium(III) on hydrous silica

Summary

Sorption behavior of europium, Eu³⁺, on SiO₂ ^. xH₂O (silica gel) has been investigated as a function of time, the amount of silica gel, Eu³⁺ concentration, the ionic strength, and pH (in absence and in presence of carbonate). The sorption data were fitted to Freundlich, Langmuir and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherms. The sorption capacity of silica gel was determined to be in the range of (2.62-8.00) ^. 10^-7 mol/g at pH 5.30±0.05 and 0.20M NaClO₄. The mean energy of sorption was calculated to be 13.50±0.05 kJ/mol from the D-R isotherm, suggesting the involvement of ion-exchange reactions in the sorption process. Sorption of Eu³⁺ decreased with increased ionic strength. A gradual decrease in pH with increased ionic strength supports the involvement of an ion-exchange mechanism in the sorption process. The diffusion coefficient of Eu³⁺ ion on silica gel was calculated as (3.98±0.12) ^. 10^-13 m^{2 .} s^-1 under the particle diffusion-controlled conditions.