Removal of ~(137)Cs and ~(152+154)Eu Using Hydroxyapatite Prepared from Mussel Shells

摘要

Cesium-137 (~(137)Cs) and europium-152+154 (1~(52+154)Eu) are the main species found in radioactive liquid wastes. Consequently, the study of their removal from wastewater was essential. For this purpose, hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles were produced from calcium-rich bio-wastes (mussel shells) by a wet chemical precipitation technique. The physicochemical properties, morphology and thermal behaviour of the HA nanoparticles were examined by XRD, FT-IR, SEM/EDX, TGA/DTA. In addition, the surface area was estimated using a nitrogen adsorption desorption isotherm. Afterwards, the adsorptive removal capacity of HA nanoparticles for ~(137)Cs and 1~(52+154)Eu within the pH range of 2-12 from aqueous solutions was determined, and the sorbent dose and contact time were also considered. The current work utilized cost effective HA nanoparticles as a planned barrier for the removal of nuclear ions originating from radio reactor liquid wastes.