Alkali metal ion exchange selectivity of Al-substituted tobermorite

Alkali metal ion exchange isotherms at a total ionic strength of 0.001 M were determined at 25 °C on a 1.13 nm anomalous [Al3+ + Na+]-substituted tobermorite with the formula, Ca5Na0.75Al0.9Si5.1O16(OH)2 · 6.03H2O. The Kielland plots of Na+/K+, Na+/Rb+, and Na+/Cs+ exchange reactions showed straight lines. The slopes were steeper for Cs+ and Rb+ exchange reactions, as compared to K+ exchange. The cation-exchange selectivity for alkali metals was found to increase as follows: Cs+>Rb+>K+>Na+. A new evaluation method of the separation factor (αMN/KMd/KNd,Kd: distribution coefficient) for a combination of two cations at infinite dilution was proposed in terms of the selectivity coefficient (KMNa) which can be easily determined from the Kielland plot. An extremely large separation factor for Cs (αCsNa = 112) was found at infinite dilution. These basic studies of cation exchange selectivity are of relevance in cation separation and purification and nuclear waste disposal.