Removal of radioactive cesium and europium from aqueous solutions using activated Al2O3 prepared by solution combustion

Surface-protected activated aluminium oxide was synthesized using solution combustion technique and characterized, as inorganic sorbent material, for the removal of Eu152+154 and Cs-134 radionuclides from wastewater. The synthesis aluminium oxide showed construction of protective organic species at the aluminium oxide surface. The structural and thermal analysis investigations of the prepared material revealed presence of oxygen in interstitial position with a stable amorphous phase of aluminium oxide. Different experiments were conducted to investigate the sorption ability of the material to radioactive europium and cesium ions including the effect of pH, initial concentration of radionuclides and temperature. Various kinetic models have been applied and also different isotherm models were studied. The results show that the pseudo-second-order model was applicable for the adsorption process and the monolayer capacity equal 133.16 and 109.78 mg/g for Eu152+154 and Cs-134, respectively. Activated amorphous alumina was found to be cost effective and of high uptake capacity for cesium and europium from aqueous solutions.