REMOVAL OF CO-60 BY ZEOLITES AND CLAYS

The use of NaY zeolite, erionite, and bentonite in the removal of radioactive cobalt from aqueous solutions has been investigated. Ion-exchange experiments were performed either with inactive cobalt solutions or labeled solutions containing Co-60. XRD patterns were used to determine if cell parameters were alike and to verify if the crystallinity of the aluminosilicates was maintained during experiments. The cobalt content was determined by neutron activation analysis. According to the exchange behavior, the selectivity sequence to retain cobalt is bentonite < erionite < Y zeolite.