Sorption of 90Sr by a T-3K carbonate-containing zirconium dioxide

A physicochemical properties of carbonate-containing zirconium hydroxide T-3K sorbent as well as selective 90 Sr sorption from natural waters were studied. It was shown that sorbent consist of ZrO 2 (46.39%), Na 2 O (1.78%) and Al 2 O 3 (1.42%) as the major components in microporous carbonate-containing zirconium hydroxide where sorption of 90 Sr occurs due to formation of sparingly soluble strontium carbonate. Affinity of the T-3K sorbent for alkaline earth ions corresponded to the reverse trend of carbonates solubility: Sr > Ba > Ca ≫ Mg and maximum strontium sorption was observed at pH 7–10. Distribution coefficients of strontium were (1.3 ± 0.1) × 10 3 mL/g for low mineralized water with calcium content of 16 mg/L and 95 mL/g for seawater; static exchange capacity of the sorbent was 30.4 ± 0.5 mg/g.