Sorption studies of Cs+, Ba2+, and Co2+ ions on bentonite using radiotracer, ToF-SIMS, and XRD techniques

Abstract

The sorption behaviour of Cs+, Ba2+, and Co2+ ions on bentonite were investigated using the radiotracer method, Time of Flight-Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The sorption of Cs+ and Ba2+ were exothermic while sorption of Co2+ was endothermic. The sorption data were well described by Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherms. According to ToF-SIMS results Na+ and Mg2+ were the primary exchanging ions in bentonite. The XRD spectra showed that no structural changes were associated with the sorption of Cs+ and Co2+, and BaCO3 precipitate was formed upon the sorption of Ba2+ on bentonite.