Sorption of fission nuclides on model milk components. I. Sorption of radiostrontium on hydroxyapatite in aqueous solutions

Hydroxyapatite, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 is a mineral widely spread in nature as a main constituent of phosphate rocks, and also as the major inorganic component of bones and teeth. It was found that sorption process occurs by an ion exchange reaction mechanism between strontium ions in solution and calcium ions in apatite. Ca2+ → Sr2+ substitution in hydroxyapatite is important since it explains the mechanism of incorporation of beta-active Sr-90 of atomic debris into the human skeletal system. The strontium uptake at 100 grad C is done by adsorption and diffusion while at 25 grad C it is done by the process of adsorption only. The hydroxyapatite was prepared from aqueous solutions and characterized by standard analytical methods. Some samples of hydroxyapatite were modified by heating after its precipitation from aqueous solution. The sample obtained had characteristics of well crystallized stoichiometric hydroxyapatite. Also, commercial hydroxy-apatites were used. Sorption of strontium ions on synthetic hydroxyapatite was examined using batch method and sorption depends on the method of preparation of hydroxyapatite. In generally, sorption of strontium decreases with the increase in the particle size of hydroxyapatite and decreases with the increase in the pH ( hydroxyapatite surface is amphoteric and acts as a buffer in a wide pH range). The sorption of strontium increases with the increase in [Sr2+] or [Ca2+] in solution to ∼ 10-5 mol · dm-3 for the hydroxyapatite prepared by heating. The experimental data for sorption of strontium has been fitted with Langmuir-adsorption isotherm. (authors)