Sorptive removal of cesium and cobalt ions in a fixed bed column using lewatit S100 cation exchange resin

Abstract EN

The sorptive removal of cesium and cobalt ions from aqueous solutions in a fixed bed column packed with Lewatit S100® cation exchange resin has been investigated.

A preliminary batch studies were performed to estimate the effect of pH and contact time on the sorption process.

Results indicated that Cs+ and Co2+ could be efficiently removed using Lewatit S100® at a pH range of 4-7 with more affinity towards Cs+ than Co2+.

Kinetic models have been applied to the sorption rate data and the relevant parameters were determined.

The obtained results indicated that the sorption of both Cs+ and Co2+ on Lewatit S100 followed pseudo second-order rather than pseudo first-order or Morris-Webber model.

Fixed bed experiments were conducted at a constant initial concentration of 100 mg/l whereas the effect of bed depth (3, 4.5 and 6 cm) and volumetric flow rate (3 and 5 ml/min.) on the breakthrough characteristics of the fixed bed sorption systems were determined.

The experimental sorption data were fitted to the well-established column models namely; Thomas and BDST models to compute the different model parameters.

The higher column sorption capacities were obtained at bed depth of 3 cm with a flow rate of 3 ml/min., for both Cs+ and Co2+.

The BDST model appeared to describe experimental results better than Thomas model.

Results indicate that Lewatit S100® is an efficient material for the removal of cesium and cobalt ions from aqueous solutions.