Abstract Starch-polyacrylic acid-polyvinylsulfonic acid (St-g-PAA-PVSA) graft copoymer was synthesized by gamma radiation as an initiator. The chemical structure, morphology, and thermal stability of the graft copolymer were investigated using FTIR, SEM, and TGA. The St-g-PAA-PVSA graft copolymer was employed as an adsorbent for the removal of Co(II) and Eu(III) radionuclides from their aqueous solutions by batch adsorption method. Several experimental factors such as pH, contact time, initial concentration of adsorbate, and temperature were used to find the best conditions for the removal of Co(II) and Eu(III) radionuclides. The pseudo-second order kinetic model better fits the adsorption kinetic data of radionuclides. Langmuir models had the ability to well describe the equilibrium data of adsorption of radionuclides. Thermodynamic parameters were calculated and suggested the adsorption process of Co(II) was endothermic while exothermic in the case of Eu(III) adsorption and both adsorption systems were spontaneous in nature. Among the examined desorbing agents, both AlCl3 and HCl were succeeded to desorb most of the radionuclides.
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