Kinetics and thermodynamics studies of cobalt, strontium and caesium sorption on marble from aqueous solution

Adsorption onto solid phases plays an important role in the transport of radionuclides and contaminants in the environment. Radionuclides in radioactive waste have been considered to be hazardous pollutants, and their migration with groundwater is strongly affected by sorption on the geologic media. Therefore, the knowledge of radionuclide sorption is of great importance in the management of radioactive wastes. A series of batch sorption experiments were conducted separately to investigate sorption and transport behaviour of cobalt, strontium and caesium on and through marble. Batch-mode kinetic and equilibrium studies have been carried out at different temperatures. Sorption experimental data were analysed by kinetic and isotherm models. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that the marble is an economic and efficient retaining material for environmental hazardous migration and/or leakage of some radionuclides. Therefore, this study could be used as a starting point to establish and consider that rock as a reactive barrier around the disposal facilities at the nuclear activity centres.