Adsorptive removal of thorium (IV) using calcined and flux calcined diatomite from Turkey: Evaluation of equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic data

Adsorption experiments were performed under batch process, using Th(IV) initial concentration, pH of solution, contact time and temperature as variables. Th(IV) uptake by calcined (C-D) and flux calcined diatomite (FC-D) was pH dependent (pH range, 3.0–6.0) and maximum sorption was observed at pH 4.0. Sorption capacities for Th(IV) were found to be 0.52 (121.22 mg Th/g) and 0.50 mmol/g (116.69 mg Th/g) for calcined diatomite (C-D) and flux calcined diatomite (FC-D), respectively. Adsorption process is well described by Freundlich and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D-R) isotherms in comparison with Langmuir, Temkin and Flory–Huggins isotherms. Thermodynamic data (ΔH°, ΔS°, ΔG°) were calculated from the temperature-dependent sorption isotherms. Results suggested that the adsorption of Th(IV) on calcined and flux calcined diatomite was a spontaneous and endothermic process. A comparison of kinetic models applied to the adsorption of Th(IV) onto C-D and FC-D was evaluated for the pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, intraparticle diffusion and film diffusion kinetic models. The experimental data fitted very well the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and also followed by intra-particle diffusion model, whereas intraparticle diffusion and film diffusion are both the rate limiting steps for Th(IV) onto calcined and flux calcined diatomite.