Fixed-bed column for the removal of cesium, strontium, and lead ions from aqueous solutions using brick kiln waste

Fixed-bed column was employed for the dismissal of strontium, cesium, and lead cations by the waste of brick kiln as a low-cost adsorbent. Brick kiln waste was characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) & Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), and particle size analyzer. The column performance was 80.1%, 73.6%, and 68.5% for Pb-2+,Pb- Cs+, and Sr2+, respectively. Scale-up of continuous processes was studied by applying some kinetic column models. Exhausted bed was regenerated using 0.2 mol/L HNO3 and multiple reused for further sorption which is necessary for the industrial applications and maintenance cost of the adsorption treatment plant. The process is simple, eco-efficient, and environmentally friendly.