Three inorganic ion exchangers namely potassium zinc hexacyanoferrate(II) (PZF), magnesium oxide-polyacrylonitrile composite (MgO-PAN) and ammonium molybdo phos p hate (AMP) were synthesized. The physicochemical properties of these ion exchangers were determined using different techniques including inductively coupled plasma (ICP), CHNSO elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy (IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric (TGA) and pH - titration curve analysis. The solubility of the synthesized ion exchangers in different acidic and alkaline media, their thermal stability and the effect of gamma irradiation were investigated. It was observed that the exchange capacity of the ion exchangers depend upon the pH value of the solution used. Furthermore, the adsorption of Sr-90(2+), La-140(3+), Co-60(2+) and the distribution coefficient of these ion exchangers for Ni2+ and Zr4+ were studied. The effect of parameters such as pH and contact time on the adsorption was also investigated and the optimum conditions for separation of these ions were determined. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.