Efficiency of locally prepared activated carbon in the preconcentration of barium-133 and radium-226 radionuclides in single and binary systems

Sawdust (SD) was used as precursor of locally prepared activated carbon with phosphoric acid (PA) chemical activation. The surface area of the product obtained (SDPA) was determined by the BET method to be 1254 m2 g−1. SDPA was used for preconcentration of 133Ba and 226Ra in single and binary systems. The influence of the shaking time, adsorbent dose, and pH on the adsorption was studied in batch experiments. The adsorption is strongly dependent on pH of the medium; the adsorption capacity reaches a maximum at pH 3.4. The process is initially fast, and the maximum adsorption is attained within 4 h of contact. The adsorption follows pseudo-second-order law. In the binary system, the two radionuclides affect each other in the adsorption process, and the prepared SDPA can be used for the separation of these radionuclides.