Selectivity modification by ion memory of magneso-silicate and magnesium alumino-silicate as inorganic sorbents

Synthetic magneso-silicate and magnesium alumino-silicate as inorganic ion exchange materials with the formula MgSi5.59O12.18·5.93H2O and MgAl2.32Si5.2O14.88·18.23H2O, respectively, have been found to be suitable for the removal of Cs+, Co2+ and Eu3+ ions with the selectivity sequence Eu3+ > Co2+ > Cs+. Samples of Cs-, Co- and Eu-loaded were prepared and thermally treated at 850 °C in a furnace for the creation of specific cavity. Surface area, IR and X-ray diffraction patterns of the products were conducted. Surface area values of OMS, OMAS, TMS, TMAS, ETMS and ETMAS were measured and indicated an increasing in the surface area values for the TMS and TMAS samples and decreasing in the ETMS and ETMAS samples. Desorption studies in nitric acid medium were carried out and reloading of the eluted solids with the studied cations were conduced and the data show an ion memory behaviour for the eluted solids. Finally, the rate of Cs+ ion sorption on OMS, OMAS, ETMS and ETMAS was studied. The diffusion coefficients calculated indicated that the diffusion of Cs+ ion is high for the ETMS and ETMAS samples compared to the OMS and OMAS samples.