Hydrothermal synthesis and sorption performance to Cs(I) and Sr(II) of zirconia-analcime composites derived from coal fly ash cenospheres

The paper is concerned with (i) the hydrothermal synthesis of hydrous zirconium dioxide (HZD) bearing analcime (HZD-ANA, zirconia-analcime) and (ii) its sorption properties respect to Cs+ Sr2+. HZD-ANA particles were synthesized from coal fly ash cenospheres composed aluminosilicate glass (SiO2/Al2O3)wt.=3.1 characterized by PXRD, SEM-EDS, STA, low-temperature N2 adsorption. non-radioactive simulant solutions different acidity (pH=2–10) Cs+/Sr2+ content (0.5–50.0 mg/L) used in work. effect conditions on particle size, zirconia localization as well behavior Sr2+ (capacity, KD) clarified. It was found that small-sized composites surpasses Zr free large-sized material parameters (KD ~104–106 mL/g). synthesize zirconia-analcime composite highly enhanced ability ~106 mL/g) determined. high-temperature solid-phase re-crystallization Cs+/Sr2+-exchanged shown occur at 1000 °C resulting a polyphase system based nepheline, tetragonal ZrO2, phase.