Uptake of Radionuclides Co, Cs, and Sr with α-FeO and FeO Particles from Aqueous Environment.

In the paper, investigation results of the uptake efficiency of radionuclides Co, Sr, and Cs dissolved in water onto iron oxides α-FeO and FeO are presented. It was found that sorption efficiency increased for higher pH values. Independent of the oxide nature, the uptake characteristics are the best toward Co and the worst toward Cs, forming the row as follows: Co > Sr > Cs. The highest sorption ability at pH 9 was found for magnetite FeO, which was 93%, 73%, and 26% toward Co, Sr, and Cs, respectively, while the respective percentages for hematite α-FeO were 85%, 41%, and 18%. It was assumed that the main sorption mechanism was ion exchange. That may explain some decrease of the sorption efficiency in drinking water due to the interfering presence of magnesium and calcium cations. The obtained results indicated the feasibility of the tested sorbents and their merits, especially in terms of relatively high uptake coefficients, low costs, availability, and lack of toxicity.