title: Continuous thorium biosorption--dynamic study for critical bed depth determination in a fixed-bed reactor.
abstract: The objective of the work was to evaluate the biosorption of thorium by the seaweed Sargassum filipendula in a dynamic system. Different bed depths were tested with the purpose of evaluating the critical bed depth for total uptake of the radioactive element. Several bed depths were tested, ranging from 5.0 to 40.0 cm. Bed depths tested presented distinct capacities to accumulate thorium. An increase in biosorption efficiency was observed with an increase in bed depth. The 30.0 cm bed produced an effluent still containing detectable levels of thorium. The critical bed depth suitable for a complete removal of thorium by S.filipendula biomass was equal to 40.0 cm.
authors.affiliation: Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Química, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Química, Pavilhão Haroldo Lisboa da Cunha, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marta Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Picardo
authors.forename: Ana Cristina de Melo
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Antonio Carlos Augusto
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: da Costa
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008954:Models, Biological; D044647:Sargassum / Q000378:metabolism*; D013910:Thorium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive; D013910:Thorium