Separation of Cesium: Adsorption and Desorption Properties of Hexacyanidoferrate(II)s Immobilized in Silica Gel

Abstract

The adsorption properties of cesium ion and potassium ion to iron(III) hexacyanidoferrate(II) (IF) and copper(II) hexacyanidoferrate(II) (CF) immobilized in silica gel were investigated. The selectivity of cesium to potassium and the maximum adsorption amount were about the same for these adsorbents, but some adsorption properties were different for these adsorbents. The adsorption amount was dependent on the counter anion species and proton was desorbed alongside the adsorption of cations for IF, while the adsorption amount was independent on the counter anion species and proton was not desorbed alongside the adsorption for CF. The adsorption amount increased with the temperature for both adsorbents and the dependence on the temperature for IF was much more significant than that for CF.