Sorption of Co(II) was investigated on natural as well as accelerated electron beam modified sheep wool involving low and high concentrations up to 200 mmol·dm-3. The sorption experiments confirmed the dependence of the sorption capacity not only on sorbate concentration and absorbed dose of energy, but also on post-exposure time. Post-exposure heating to accelerate transformation of the wool structure was of no effect on the sorption comparing with a simple storage for a period of 100 days. Under all tested conditions, the sorption maximum was measured for Co(II) concentration of 125 mmol·dm-3 and that was assigned to form a Co(II) complex with keratin. This assumption was tested on visible spectra of mixed solutions of Arginine and Co(II) to be a simplified model of Co(II) interaction with keratin. The sorption decrease is associated with generation of cross links between macro-chains through ligands of the Co-complex. The nodal points are a hindrance to diffusion of next ions into the fibers. Also, pH variations of aqueous extracts from the wool samples depending on absorbed dose and post-exposure time indicate complexity of the structural transformation being specific for each dose applied.
Keywords: Co-complex; cobalt sorption; electron beam irradiation; post-exposure time; sheep wool.