Adsorption experiments were carried out in batch mode in order to
define the most appropriate physical and chemical conditions aiming at
the Ce3+, La3+ and Nd3+ adsorption on CA beads. The freeze-dried
beads were rinsed with 0.5 mol L-1 HCl (3×10 mL) and further
conditioned with deionized water (5×25 mL) before use. This procedure
was necessary to remove excessive Ca2+ adsorbed in the alginate
matrix that can compete with the trivalent REE for the carboxylic acid
moieties, improving the efficiency of adsorption of the interest elements