Porous microsphere of magnesium oxide as an effective sorbent for removal of volatile iodine from off-gas stream

Porous microspheres of magnesium oxide were synthesized by calcination of precursor obtained via hydrothermal method. A sample of microsphere was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersion spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, N-2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, and BET surface area. The average pore size and surface area of the microsphere were found to be 9.0 nm and 83.1 m(2) g(-1), respectively. The performance of sorbent was investigated in a continuous adsorption system. Iodine adsorption on sorbent was studied by varying temperature of adsorption column, sorbent calcination temperature and initial concentration of iodine. The capacity of sorbent increased by similar to 25 % when calcination temperature was raised from 350 to 500 A degrees C. The maximum iodine adsorption capacity of sorbent was found to be 196 mg g(-1) using Langmuir isotherm. These results indicate the microspherical form of MgO to be effective sorbent to capture iodine vapor from off-gas stream.