The sorption behavior of Ba2+, Co2+ and Zn2+ ions on alumina, kaolinite and magnesite have been investigated using the batch method.60Co,65Zn and133Ba were used as radiotracers. The mineral samples were separated into different particle size fractions using an Andreasen Pipette. The particle sizes used in the sorption experiments were all less than 38 μm. 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 were separated by centrifuging and adioactivity 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 highest sorption was observed on alumina. Both Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich type isotherms were found to describe the sorption process well. The distribution ratio, Rd was found to be a function of the liquid volume to solid mass ratio. The Rd's for sorption on binary mixtures of minerals were experimentally determined and compared with those predicted from Rd values of each individual mineral. © 1994 Akadémiai Kiadó.