ADSORPTION OF PERTECHNETATE ION ON ACTIVE CARBON FROM ACIDS AND THEIR SALT SOLUTIONS

The adsorbability of pertechnetate ion (TcO 4 − ) reached 96% for an active carbon at the 0.1 g/50 ml concentration level, increasing with diminution of acid and its salt concentrations, and depending on the type of anions present. With constant anion concentration, TcO 4 − adsorbability rose with decreasing pH in the acidic region, followed in the region around neutrality by a plateau, and in the basic region by an appreciable decline of TcO 4 − adsorbability. In the acidic region, part of once-adsorbed TcO 4 − appeared to be displaced by other anions. Reversibility was noted between the adsorption and desorption of TcO 4 − .