Removal Behavior of Cobalt from Aqueous Solutions by a Sodium-Modified Zeolitic Tuff

The sorption behavior of cobalt by a sodium-modified zeolite-rich tuff was investigated using cobalt solutions prepared with water from the cooling system of a nuclear reactor. The sorption kinetics shows that the equilibrium was reached in less than 20 h. The isotherms showed that the sorption capacity of the sodium-modified zeolite-rich tuff for cobalt was 20.73 mg/g at 60 degrees C. The pH affects the sorption capacity of the sodium-modified zeolite-rich tuff for cobalt. The sorption capacity of the sodium-modified zeolite-rich tuff for cobalt was higher using nuclear purity water than water from other aqueous matrices.