Title: Competitive sorption of Cu(II), Eu(III) and U(VI) ions on dunite in aqueous solutions: a potentiometric study

Authors: Maria Konstantinou, Ioannis Pashalidis

Addresses: Department of Chemistry, University of Cyprus, P.O. 20537, 1678 Lefkosia, Cyprus. ' Department of Chemistry, University of Cyprus, P.O. 20537, 1678 Lefkosia, Cyprus

Abstract: The competitive sorption of Cu(II), Eu(III) and U(VI)) ions in aqueous solutions by dunite, has been investigated by potentiometry at pH 6, I = 0.1 M NaClO₄ and 25°C. Numerical analysis of the experimental data supports the formation of inner-sphere surface complexes and allows the evaluation of the conditional formation constant of the surface complexes. The conditional formation constants of the Cu(II), Eu(III) and U(VI) complexes on dunite were found to be log β = 4.8 ± 0.4, 5.3 ± 0.7 and 12.5 ± 0.6, respectively.

Keywords: metal ions; dunite; surface complexes; competition; formation constants; competitive sorption; adsorption; copper, uranium; chemical affinity; igneous rock; europium; aqueous solutions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2010.031536

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2010 Vol.12 No.2/3/4, pp.322 - 332

Published online: 10 Feb 2010 *

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