Adsorption and diffusion of cesium ions in zirconium(IV) iodomolybdate exchanger

Tetravalent metal acid (TMA) salt zirconium(IV) iodomolybdate ion exchanger was chemically synthesized under different conditions and subjected into batch reactor for cesium removal investigation. The properties of synthesized exchangers were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Data revealed that the prepared beads are amorphous in nature and thermally stable up to 350 °C. The influences of contact time, pH, ionic strength, and organic acids were investigated. Results illustrated that cesium uptake reached equilibrium within 2 h and it is strongly dependent on ionic strength and nearly independent of pH values. Speciation of cesium ions and their ability to form ternary complexes less adhered to the applied exchangers predominate their adsorption behavior. The prepared exchangers had a good ion-exchange capacity ranged from 7.94 to 9.62 mmol g⁻¹.