Amberlite XAD-2 impregnated Cyanex272: sorption desorption studies of thorium(IV)

Abstract

Abstract Amberlite XAD-2 impregnated with Cyanex272 was packed in a column and studied for separation and recovery of Th(IV). The effect of various parameters influencing sorption of Th(IV) viz. acid concentration, aqueous phase flow rates, nature and concentration of eluents and other ions were systematically studied. Under optimized conditions Th(IV) was quantitatively sorbed from 0.001 M HNO3 and recovered using 10 cm3 of 4.0 M HCl at 0.6 cm3 min−1 flow rate. Batch studies using impregnated resin were evaluated for using Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. The sorption capacity of the impregnated resin for Th(IV) was 8.48 mmol g−1. The limit of detection for Th(IV) was 0.67 μg dm−3 and a reusability for more than 65 cycles was observed. The method developed was applied for isolation of Th(IV) from monazite sand. It was reproducible with a relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of 0.8%.