Sorption of cesium, cobalt and europium on low-rank coal and chitosan

• Published in: Water research (Oxford) Vol. 41; no. 3; pp. 620 - 626
• Main Authors: Mizera, J., Mizerová, G., Machovič, V., Borecká, L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-02-2007; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adsorption; Applied sciences; Cesium; Cesium - chemistry; Chitosan; Chitosan - chemistry; Coal; Cobalt; Cobalt - chemistry; Europium; Europium - chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; Humic substances; Other industrial wastes. Sewage sludge; Pollution; pollution control; sorbents; Sorption; Wastes; water pollution; water treatment; Water treatment and pollution; Sorption; Coal; Cesium; Chitosan; Humic substances; Cobalt; Europium; Batchwise; Acidification; Binding site; Sorbent
• ISSN: 0043-1354; 1879-2448
• DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2006.11.008

Potential low-cost sorbents of metals based on combined action of coal and chitosan have been investigated. Sorption of Cs, Co and Eu on oxidized coals in mixture with chitosan was studied as function of pH (∼3–6) in batch experiments using radiotracer method. An improved sorption efficiency of the coal sorbents at neutral pH was obtained in mixture with chitosan, namely for oxihumolite at sorption of Eu and Co. Chitosan prevented deterioration of the sorption ability of coal with pH increase probably via retaining the soluble complexes with humic substances leached from coal by formation of an insoluble complex. The effect of chitosan addition was negligible or reverse in case of lignite upon acidification, where the interaction takes place preferentially on the coal surface and may restrict availability of the binding sites for metal ions.