Evaluation of synthetic aluminum silicate modified by magnesia for the removal of 137Cs, 60Co and 152+154Eu from low-level radioactive waste.

The present study concerns the preparation, characterization and testing of an inorganic ion exchanger Aluminum Silicate Modified Magnesia (ASMM). The ASMM composite was prepared using sol-gel technique and characterized by XRD, XRF, FTIR, TGA, DTA, SEM and surface area analysis. The capability of the prepared composite for the removal of (Cs+, Co2+ and Eu3+) from aqueous solution was evaluated. Sorption studies were carried out taking into account important parameters such as (pH, initial concentration, contact time and temperature). Kinetic and isotherm models were applied to the prepared composite, kinetic data is well fitted with pseudo-second order kinetic model, Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm model indicates that sorption was controlled by chemisorption process. The removal efficiency found to be 80% for Cs+, 90% for Co2+ and 95% for Eu3+.