Exploration of the parameters affecting the radioactive europium removal from aqueous solutions by activated...

Adsorption of radioactive europium from aqueous solution was achieved using activated carbon - epoxy composite. The preparation of activated carbon - epoxy composite was reported using gamma radiation. The ratio of the activated carbon: epoxy was 50:50 Wt %. Irradiation of the mixture by the dose 20 KGy in gamma cell was performed. The physicochemical properties of the prepared composite were investigated by using different analytical techniques. The obtained results were analyzed using different kinetic models. The sorption kinetic process fitted with the pseudo-second-order model preferably than the pseudo-first-order model. The sorption mechanism was achieved by multi-diffusion steps comprising both film and intra-particle diffusion. The monolayer capacity of the composite was 297.62 mg/g. The thermodynamic parameters were studied. The negative value of ΔG⁰ and the positive value of ΔH⁰ revealed the spontaneous and endothermic nature of the sorption process.