Effects of Humic Acid on the pH-dependent Sorption of Europium (Eu) to Kaolinite

The sorption of europium (Eu (III)) onto kaolinite and the influence of humic acids over a range of pH 3 ~ 11 has been studied by batch adsorption experiment (V/m = 250 : 1 mL/g, , , ). The concentrations of HA and Eu(III) in aqueous phase were measured by UV absorbance at 254nm (e.g., ) and ICP-MS after microwave digestion for HA removals, respectively. Results showed that the HA sorption onto kaolinite was decreased with increasing pH and their sorption isotherms fit well with the Langmuir adsorption model (except pH 3). Maximum amount () for the HA sorption at pH 4 to 11 was ranged from 4.73 to 0.47 mg/g. Europium adsorption onto the kaolinite in the absence of HA was typical, showing an increases with pH and a distinct adsorption edge at pH 3 to 5. However in the presence of HA, Eu adsorption to kaolinite was significantly affected. HA was shown to enhance Eu adsorption in the acidic pH range (pH 3 ~ 4) due to the formation of additional binding sites for Eu coming from HA adsorbed onto kaolinite surface, but reduce Eu adsorption in the intermediate and high pH above 6 due to the formation of aqueous Eu-HA complexes. The results on the ternary interaction of kaolinte-Eu-HA are compared with those on the binary system of kaolinite-HA and kaolinite-Eu and adsorption mechanism with pH was discussed.