SORPTION BEHAVIOR OF CO2+, ZN2+ AND BA2+ IONS ON ALUMINA, KAOLINITE AND MAGNESITE

The sorption behavior of Ba2+, Co2+ and Zn2+ ions on alumina, kaolinit e and magnesite have been investigated using the batch method. Co-60, Zn-65 and Ba-133 were used as radiotracers The mineral samples were se parated into different particle size fractions using an Andreasen Pipe tte. The particle sizes used in the sorption experiments were all less than 38 mu m. Synthetic groundwaters were used which had compositions similar to those from the regions where the minerals were recovered. The samples were shaken with a lateral shaker at 190 rpm, the phases w ere separated by centrifuging and radioactivity counted using a NaI(Tl ) detector. Kinetic studies indicated that sorption onto the minerals took place in two stages with the slower process dominating. The highe st sorption was observed on alumina. Both Freundlich and Dubinin-Radus hkevich type isotherms were found to describe the sorption process wel l. The distribution ratio, R(d), was found to be a function of the liq uid volume to solid mass ratio. The R(d)'s for sorption on binary mixt ures of minerals were experimentally determined and compared with thos e predicted from R(d) values of each individual mineral.