Chromatographic separation of sodium, cobalt and europium on the particles of zirconium molybdate and zirconium silicate ion exchangers

Zirconium molybdate and zirconium silicate were prepared by application of the precipitation and sol–gel routes, respectively. The produced ion exchange powders were physically characterized using X-ray diffraction, infrared and differential thermal analysis. The obtained data revealed that they are thermally and chemically stable, having unique microstructure properties that permit their use in chromatographic separation of Na+, Co2+, and Eu3+ from liquid waste streams. Distribution coefficient studies have been conducted in parallel with the loading-elution column operations; both ion exchangers showed the same order of selectivity towards the aforementioned ions and the Kd values decreased in the order; Eu3+ > Co2+ > Na+. The capacities of the used exchangers differed with drying temperature; zirconium-silicate possessed higher capacities than corresponding molybdate one. 22Na, 60Co and 152+154Eu were separated from each other on the loaded columns using 0.1 M HNO3 and 1 M HNO3.