Selective sorption of 134Cs and 60Co radioisotopes using synthetic nanocopper ferrocyanide-SiO2 materials

Abstract

New Nanocopper ferrocyanide-silica nanoparticles (SiO2-CuFe-CN) NPs were synthesized by co-condensation (one-pot) procedure; the prepared composite were characterized using FTIR, XRD, EDS and SEM. The sorption affinity of nanocopper ferrocyanide-SiO2 materials towards 134Cs and 60Co radioisotopes from aqueous and nitrate medium were extensively studied. The factors affecting the sorption process such as mixing time, pH, metal ion concentrations and temperature were conducted. The experimental isotherm data were found to fit with both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The thermodynamic parameters were evaluated. The results obtained proved that (SiO2-CuFe-CN) NPs is a promising material for the remediation of low level radioactive waste solutions contains 134Cs, 60Co, 99Mo and 90Sr of relatively low nitric acid concentration. The results obtained in the application section reveals that (SiO2-CuFe-CN) NPs gives high selective sorption of 99Mo radioisotope over other radioisotopes from 0.01 M HNO3.