Adsorption behavior of molybdenum onto K-doped γ-Al2O3 and iron clay nanocomposite

Abstract Adsorption of molybdenum was carried out on two materials; potassium doped γ-Al2O3 (KA) and bentonite iron oxide composite (BIOC) with purpose of using in production of chromatographic 99mTc generators, for KA absorbent, different ranges of potassium loadings have been considered, for BIOC solid the used weight ratio was (Bentonite/Fe = 2/1). Samples were characterized by XRD and WDXRF. Adsorption of MoxOyz− species was carried out at pH 2.5 and 25 °C, effects of contact time and pH were studied. The Mo adsorption data onto used materials were well fitted using Freundlich and Langmuir models. Doped alumina samples showed higher adsorption capacities (∼90 mg g−1) than the usual alumina used in generator technology (∼60 mg g−1), whereas adsorption capacities of BIOC solid were in the range of (∼75 mg g−1).