Effect of gamma-ray irradiation on the sorption property of hydrous ferric oxide and ferric phosphate

The equilibrium sorption capacity of hydrous ferric oxide and ferric phosphate has been observed to increase on irradiation with γ-rays by 5.2 and 6.6%, respectively. The rate of sorption increases differently in the irradiated exchanger materials depending upon their characteristic nature: e.g., when the concentration of the Zn/ammine/ solution is 0.10M, increase in the F-values, caused by irradiation is significantly more striking in the case of hydrous ferric oxide than in ferric phosphate. On the other hand, at lower external concentration of the Zn/ammine/ ion /0.01M/, the increase in F-values is more significant in the case of ferric phosphate. No definite conclusion was achieved on the possible structural changes caused in the irradiated exchange materials except that the materials exhibited an amorphous character. (T.G.)