Performance evaluation of sodium alginate/polyvinyl alcohol/polyethylene oxide/ZSM5 zeolite hybrid adsorbent for ion uptake from aqueous solutions. A case study of thorium (IV)

In this paper, the thorium uptake from aqueous solution using SA/PVA/PEO/ZSM5 nanohybrid adsorbent has been investigated. The effect of zeolite content, pH, adsorbent dose, contact time, initial concentration, and temperature parameters was scrutinized. Using adsorbent containing 10 wt% zeolite and at pH 5 and 45 °C, the highest uptake of thorium (139.2 mg g^-1) occurred. Kinetic studies have shown that the process of thorium uptake follows the double-exponential kinetic model. Using different isothermal models, uptake isotherm was studied. The results showed that the thorium uptake onto the adsorbent is physical, spontaneous and endothermic reaction. (author)