Adsorption behavior and practical separation of some radionuclides using cellulose/HO7Sb3

Testing and evaluation of sorption kinetics, isotherms, and thermodynamics for cellulose/HO7Sb3 nanocomposite surface were demonstrated. Saturation capacity of La3+, Co2+, and Cs+ onto cellulose/HO7Sb3 nanocomposite was calculated at different pH and initial metal concentrations. Kinetic (pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and intraparticle diffusion) and isotherm (Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin–Radushkevich [D–R]) models were applied to the prepared nanocomposite. Kinetic data are well fitted with pseudo-second-order kinetic model. From Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm model, the sorption process is controlled by chemical adsorption for both La3+ and Co2+, while for Cs+ is controlled by physical adsorption. According to the value of adsorption capacities, cellulose/HO7Sb3 seems to be a better sorbent for La3+ than Co2+ and Cs+ with high removal efficiency for the studied metal ions. Separation of La3+ ions using chromatographic column packed with cellulose/HO7Sb3 was achieved successfully.