Th(IV) adsorption on alumina: effects of contact time, pH, ionic strength and phosphate

Adsorption of Th(IV) (total concentration, 10(-5)-10(-4) mol/L) was studied by a batch technique. The effects of pH, ionic strength, contact time, and phosphate on the adsorption of Th(IV) onto alumina were investigated. Adsorption isotherms of Th(IV) on alumina at approximately constant pH and three ionic strengths (0.05, 0.1, 0.5 mol/L KNO3) were determined. It was found that the pH values of aqueous solutions of both the Th(IV)-alumina and phosphate-alumina adsorption systems increase with increasing contact time, respectively. Adsorption of Th(IV) on alumina steeply increases with increasing pH from 1 to 4.5 and the adsorption edge consists of three regions. The phosphate added clearly enhances Th(IV) adsorption in the pH range 1-4. From the adsorption isotherms at approximately constant pH and three different ionic strengths, a reduced ionic strength effect was observed and is contradictory to the insensitive effect obtained from the adsorption edges on three oxides of Fe, Al, and Si at different ionic strengths. Compared with the adsorption edges at different ionic strengths, the adsorption isotherms at approximately constant pH and different ionic strengths are more advantageous in the investigation of ionic strength effect. The significantly positive effect of phosphate on Th(IV) adsorption onto alumina was attributed to strong surface binding of phosphate on alumina and the subsequent formation of ternary surface complexes involving Th(IV) and phosphate.