ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

The Sereď Leached Nickel Ores Residues - A Magnetic Sorbent for Fission Radionuclides and Lead Contaminants of Solids

F. Macášek, J. Kufčáková, P. Rajec, R. Kopunec, Š. Jakabský, M. Lovás, and S. Hredzák

Department of Nuclear Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, SK-842 15 Bratislava

E-mail: macasek@fns.uniba.sk

Received: 6 December 2002

Abstract: Black powdered residues from ammoniacal leaching of iron-nickel laterite ores at Sereď plant (further: SOR), the raw and mechanochemically activated by the grinding in potassium ferrocyanide solution in vibrating, ball or attrition mills, were used as a seminatural magnetic sorbent. The sorption properties for Cs⁺, Sr²⁺ Pb²⁺, and Eu³⁺ ions were evaluated using the Toth sorption isotherm. Activation of sorbent occurs on a small fraction of surface. The vibrating mill activation appears as the most efficient in respect of its activation, though the biggest increase of specific surface was achieved by attrition grinding. Speciation by the Tessier and BCR standard leaching procedures indicates differences between the ions. Raw and activated SOR have convenient sorption properties for caesium, strontium, lead and partially also for trivalent lanthanides. That, together with their magnetic properties makes them promising for treatment of radioactive contaminated soils and sediments. Sorption of anions was demonstrated by TcO₄^- sorption as a result of secondary ion-exchange mechanism. The feasible desorption process and recycling of used SOR remains an open task.

Full paper in Portable Document Format: 583a163.pdf

Chemical Papers 58 (3) 163–169 (2004)