Hydrous manganese oxide-polyacrylonitrile (HMO-PAN) composite for the treatment of radioactive laundry wastewater.

Hydrous manganese oxide-polyacrylonitrile (HMO-PAN) composite was applied for the removal of Co, Sr and Cs from radioactive laundry wastewater. Single- and multi-solute competitive sorptions onto HMO-PAN were investigated. The maximum sorption capacity was in the order of Co (0.573) > Cs (0.551) > Sr (0.310 mmol g). Sorption of the metals occurred via physical adsorption due to weak van der Waals force and ion exchange with Mn in HMO-PAN. Sorption behaviors were not related to the types of the surfactants. Among the tested surfactants, SDBS and SOBS remarkably increased the distribution coefficient of Co and Sr, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]