Effective Biosorption of Cesium and Strontium Ions from Aqueous Solutions Using Silica Loaded with Aspergillus brasiliensis
M. R. Abass, Eman M. Kandeel, R. A. Abou-Lilah, Mokhtar K. Mohamed
Abstract
Abstract In this study, the batch technique was used for the sorption of Sr(II) and Cs(I) onto silica loaded with Aspergillus brasiliensis (AB@S). The precipitation technique was used to synthesize the AB@S bio-sorbent, which was then evaluated using several analytical instruments such as XRD, FT-IR, and SEM. The results of this investigation revealed that the sorption process had a short equilibrium time (40 min). The distribution coefficient values have a sequence order Sr(II) ˃ Cs(I). AB@S sorbent has saturation capacity for Sr(II) and Cs(I) 72.2 and 26.1 mg g −1 , respectively. The reaction kinetics follow the pseudo-second-order model with capacity values of 5.01 and 3.53 mg g −1 for Sr(II) and Cs(I), respectively. Applicability of Langmuir isotherms has capacity values of 66.3 and 23.38 mg g −1 for Sr(II) and Cs(I), respectively. Thermodynamics data are endothermic and spontaneous. The AB@S is a promising bio-sorbent for the removal of 85 Sr and 134 Cs from simulated radioactive waste (SRW). The investigation proved that the AB@S is suitable to adsorb Sr(II) and Cs(I) from aqueous solutions and could be considered potential material for the purification of effluent contaminated with these ions.