SELECTIVE ADSORPTION OF THORIUM ON ACTIVATED-CHARCOAL FROM ELECTROLYTIC AQUEOUS-SOLUTION

The adsorption of thorium on activated charcoal has been studied as a function of shaking time, amount of adsorbent, pH, concentration of adsorbate and temperature. Adsorption of thorium obeys the Langmuir isotherm. DELTA-H0 and DELTA-S0 were calculated from the slope and intercept of 1n K(D) vs. 1/T plots. The influence of different anions and cations on thorium adsorption has been examined. The adsorption of other metal ions on activated charcoal has been studied under specified conditions to check its selectivity. Consequently, thorium was removed from Cs, Co, Ba, Cr, Sr, Cd, Cu, Mn and Zn. More than 98% adsorbed thorium on activated charcoal can be recovered with 55 ml 3M HNO3 solution. Wavelength dispersive X-rays fluorescence spectrometer was used for measuring thorium concentration.