Removal of Cs+ and Sr2+ from water using MWCNT reinforced Zeolite-A beads

Removal of hazardous radioactive cesium and strontium was an unresolved problem. Therefore, we developed a novel adsorbent for the removal of both cesium and strontium ions by encapsulating zeolite-A into MWCNT-reinforced alginate gel. The performance of beads was systematically evaluated by batch sorption experiments, followed by equilibrium and kinetic studies with different mathematical models. Experimental data gave better mathematical fitting towards pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model, which means that the uptake mechanism was monolayer chemisorption involving an ion exchange. The maximum theoretical Cs+/Sr2+ sorption capacity of MWCNT modified zeolite-A beads was 113/107 mg/g, and that of without MWCNT was 102/96 mg/g, respectively. The effective surface area, encapsulation ability and sorption capacity of adsorbent were improved by MWCNT. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.