Natural diatomite (Rudovci, Serbia) as adsorbent for removal Cs from radioactive waste liquids

Abstract

The removal of Cs (I) ions from aqueous solution was studied using natural diatomite as adsorption materials originated from Rudovci, Serbia. The microstructure of natural diatomite has been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) while the degree of Cs adsorption was evaluated by atomic emission spectroscopy. The cation exchange capacity (CEC) values for natural diatomite was 50 meq/100g. Depending on whether the Cs adsorption occurred in the acidic and alkaline media at a temperature of 298.15 K in acidic media ΔG0 values was -12.674 kJ/mol, while in alkaline media ΔG0 was - 13.142 kJ/mol and a change of ΔS0 to 42.51 J/molK in acidic media and 44.08 J/molK in alkaline medium.